A sewing machine with an upper feed mechanism includes: a sewing machine head; a needle plate; first, second and third shafts each extending from the sewing machine head vertically downwardly toward the needle plate, each shaft having a lower end; a needle secured to the lower end of the first shaft; a feed element having one end carried by the lower end of the second shaft and the other end located forwardly of the path of the needle; an upper feed dog formed in the other end of the feed element and confronting the needle plate; and a presser foot mounted to the lower end of the third shaft, wherein the first, second and third shafts being moved in timed relation to one another so as to allow a workpiece to be sandwiched between the presser foot and the needle plate, and the upper feed dog cooperating with a lower feed dog located below the needle plate to clamp and feed the workpiece to the path of the needle whereby stitches are formed, and wherein the first, second and third shafts are juxtaposed in that order in the direction in which the workpiece is fed.