An embroidery presser for an embroidery machine includes a presser bar having a lower end, an operation lever operated so that the presser bar is vertically moved, a needle bar movable vertically, a holder attached to the lower end of the presser bar, a presser foot supported by the holder so as to be vertically movable and having a lower end with a cloth pressing portion intermittently pressing workpiece cloth by a vertical movement of the needle bar, a biasing member normally biasing the presser foot relative to the holder elastically downward, and a presser lifting mechanism abutting the sewing machine frame when the presser bar is lifted by operation of the operation lever, thereby lifting the presser foot relative to the holder.