A pattern selection apparatus displays patterns and allows any of the displayed patterns to be directly selected. The apparatus comprises a control circuit, a display unit, an item designating dial and a selection establishing key. The control circuit indicates on the display unit where a cursor-highlighted displayed pattern is located relative to all the patterns under the same subset heading. As the cursor is moved in response to rotation of the item designating dial, the pattern location indication is correspondingly changed. Pushing the selection establishing key selects the cursor-highlighted pattern. Thus, any of the patterns displayed on the display unit is selected quickly and easily.