A presser foot lift device for an upper feed sewing machine is so arranged that an upper feed tooth is initially lifted and then lifted along with a presser foot only after the lower surface of the upper feed tooth is at a position above the upper surface of the presser foot. This two-step lifting motion is made feasible by the combined operation of an elongated slot formed in a manually rotated actuating arm and a pin formed on an actuator pivotally mounted in coaxial fashion on a supporting shaft of the actuating arm and so adapted as to be introduced into the elongated slot.