A needle-positioning attachment for a sewing machine having a main drive spindle for reciprocating a needle, including a main drive wheel connected to the main drive spindle for rotation in one sense with overrun, a secondary drive motor continuously driving a secondary drive spindle which, through coupling means, drives the main drive wheel; and a selector device which is operatively at rest whereby the secondary drive spindle rotates within said device and drives the main drive wheel to a stop position when the drive from the main drive motor ceases.