A sewing machine is disclosed wherein a plurality of stitch patterns encoded as digital data are stored in a static memory. A graphic pattern display element having pattern images corresponding to the plurality of stitch patterns is mounted on a cylindrical member. The cylindrical member is mounted on the output shaft of a stepping motor. Rotation of the stepping motor causes the pattern images to travel past a display window through which they may be viewed by a machine operator. Control elements are provided for the machine operator to cause the stepping motor to be rotated until a desired stitch pattern image is visible in a predetermined position through the display window. A stepping motor shaft position sensor is coupled to provide signals indicative of the angular position of the stepping motor shaft, which angular position corresponds to the pattern visible in the predetermined position. These signals are utilized to access the memory to retrieve therefrom the digital data corresponding to the desired stitch pattern.