An apparatus for controlling an electric sewing machine has a mechanism for transmitting the driving torque of a motor to the sewing machine to drive the same, a mechanism for imparting braking power to the sewing machine to stop the same, a mechanism for stopping the needle of said sewing machine at desired positions in its stroke and controlling means adapted to control these mechanisms. At least a part of the controlling means is constituted by a microcomputer. The signal input to the microcomputer is provided in synchronization with a synchronizing clock signal, and only such input signals as required in respective periods of operation are checked in each of the periods, so that the checking of the input signals is facilitated and accidents due to erroneous operation are avoided.