A sewing machine executing a free-motion capable of sewing while a
workpiece cloth is manually moved by an operator includes a needlebar
having a lower end to which a sewing needle is attached, a needlebar
driving mechanism vertically driving the needlebar via a main shaft, a
presser foot pressing the workpiece cloth manually moved by the operator,
an imaging device imaging at least an area of the workpiece cloth near to
the sewing needle, a movement amount operating device obtaining by
operation a movement amount of the workpiece cloth based on image data
from the imaging device, a setting device setting a stitch pitch on the
workpiece cloth, a comparing device comparing the obtained movement
amount of the workpiece cloth and the set stitch pitch, a cloth movement
limiter limiting movement of the workpiece cloth by the manual operation,
and a control device controlling the cloth movement limiter according to
a result of comparison.