are stepped relative to the respective pawls so as to obtain same number of needle position coordinates with the number of needle position coordinates obtained in fig7 fig9 15 show the relations between the locking levers 32 33 34 and the engaging faces 30a 30b of one needle positioning member 25 to determine the seven needle position coordinates as aforementioned the locking levers 32 33 are connected to the solenoids 35 36 respectively and are operated by electric signals applied to the solenoids 35 36 the other lever 34 is at its bent portion 34b connected to the levers 32 33 and is operated when one of the levers 32 33 is operated or when both levers 32 33 are operated by the respectively associated solenoids in those figures one of the locking levers 32 33 34 which has no relation with the limiting lever 41 selectively operated by an electric signal applied to the solenoid 42 engages the engaging face 30a of the needle positioning member 25 due to the action of the loaded spring the engaging face 30b can be engaged by the locking levers when the movement of these levers is limited by half by the limiting lever 41 these levers 32 33 34 are disengaged.