sensor 32 by subtraction of immediately consecutively stored corresponding values the controls 13 calculate the actual pertinent material feed thus the first actual increment u03b4y b and or the second actual increment u03b4x b alternatively the zero or starting value for each sewing step or feed cycle or a multiple of these can always be redefined again in this case the value transferred by the ips to the controls 13 is directly the first actual increment u03b4y b and or the second actual increment u03b4x b and the subtraction does not apply the controls 13 now calculate the deviation of the respective first target increment u03b4y a from the calculated first actual increment u03b4y b and store this value as the first correction value d y the first feeding increment u03b4y t is increased for the following sewing step or feeding cycle by the double of the first correction value d y thus u03b4y t 2 u03b4y t 2 2d y with this the calculated deviation is compensated for in only one sewing step finally the value of the feeding increment u03b4y t is reduced again for the following sewing step by d y thus u03b4y t 3 u03b4y t 2 u2212 d y and remains at this corrected value for further sewing steps until a deviation between the actual and target values is once again detected in an analogous fashion the regulation of the second feeding increment u03b4x t takes place with the regulation algorithm described the controls.