66 by depression of the compound pattern selector switch 100 and the enter button 48 comprises a multi stitch zigzag pattern designated mz followed by a succession of fourteen 14 transverse straight stitch patterns with no work feed designated c alternating each with one of fifteen 15 lengthwise straight stitch patterns designated l in this preferred embodiment providing a mending stitch pattern the operator influenced input switches 110 and 120 increase or decrease respectively a parameter related to the length of the fabric tear which it is desired to repair the parameter to be entered may for instance be the length of the tear expressed in millimeters and the entered parameter may be exhibited by the leds 130 shown in fig1 those of the stitch patterns in the string of patterns stored by depression of switches 100 and 48 which require response to the parameter stored as a result of operation of the input switches 110 120 as for instance in ram 140 of the microprocessor are flagged for such response and are associated with data to be processed by the central processor unit 64 the multi zigzag stitch pattern mb for instance is flagged and associated with data related to the length of each multi stitch zigzag pattern by which the central processor unit can calculate and activate an appropriate.