surface thereof but will not permit an operator 39 s fingers to be inserted into the path of the tip of the reciprocating embroidery needle 58 knob 28 can be rotated rotating switch plate 38 for activation of motor 44 which will cause reciprocal motion of embroidery needle 58 the operator uses one hand to manipulate knob 28 while manipulating the embroidery hoop to position the cloth at the desired location for penetration by embroidery needle 58 in this manner an embroidery stitch is facilitated by the apparatus 10 to remove the cloth and embroidery hoop the apparatus 10 is moved into its unlocked condition allowing arm 14 to be pivoted away from capsule 62 to its standby position allowing removal of the cloth and the embroidery hoop since the embroidery stitch is a non interlocking stitch the loop portions of the stitch may glued to the cloth for permanent attachment thereto the apparatus 10 of the present invention has two locking systems for preventing unsafe usage of the apparatus first the motor 44 cannot be energized unless the arm 14 is in the operational position with the shroud 24 substantially enclosing the tip of the embroidery needle 58 as it reciprocates second the arm 14 cannot be pivoted from the operational position to the standby position unless the tip of the embroidery needle 58 is fully retracted within the housing 12 both of these systems operate to substantially minimize the risk of accidental injury to the operator of the apparatus 10 although the disclosure describes and illustates the preferred embodiment of the invention it.