PURPOSE: To simply select pattern by constituting the sewing machine so that an external shape selecting means and a stitch selecting means select one kind of external shape from plural kinds of external shapes, and one kind of stitch from plural kinds of stitches, respectively, and a seam is formed in working cloth in accordance with a pattern consisting thereof.

CONSTITUTION: When the sewing machine is set to a frame pattern selection mode by operating a transparent electrode switch 6, a CPU displays an external shape selection screen on a pattern display device 5. Based thereon, a worker selects an external shape by operating the transparent electrode switch 6. This external shape is stored in a RAM 7. Subsequently, a linear selection screen is displayed on the pattern display device 5, and a linear shape is selected in the same way. By the external shape stored in the RAM 7 and this linear shape, pattern display data is read out of a ROM 8, and a pattern defined screen is displayed on the display device 5. The CPU 10 drives a seam forming mechanism by operating a start switch 4 to execute sewing with this pattern shape data.