To efficiently manufacture a suture thread with double arms by receiving individual needles, bringing these needles to a prescribed position, then inserting the end part of the suture thread of an indefinite length to the first needle to fix the suture thread and reversing the cutting end part of the other end of the suture thread so as to insert the second needle to fix the suture thread.

At least two universal grippers 155 are provided, a surgical needle 39 accepted to each gripper 155 is put through a suture thread attaching station from a prescribed position to be indexed, and a suture thread material of an indefinite length is automatically cut off to a prescribed length. Next, in the case of forming a suture thread with double arms, the reversible second gripper of the two grippers is rotated to inverse the end of the suture thread to operate a carriage having a pair of jaws 365a, 365b to insert the suture thread into the second surgical needle. Subsequently at the suture thread attaching station, the first needle 39 is fixed to the first end part of the suture thread and the second needle is fixed to the second end part of the suture thread.