The invention relates to a multiple needle sewing machine for sewing large-area sewing material (28) which consists of several layers, at least two layers (6, 15, 21), whereof one layer (15) at least is formed of an elastic material, which multiple needle sewing machine comprises a sewing unit, a supply device for the layers to be sewn together (6, 15, 21), a storage device for withdrawing and storing the sewn layers (6, 15, 21) from the sewing unit, as well as a device which is arranged upstream of the sewing unit and by which the layer (15) made of an elastic material is supplied to the sewing unit in a non-stretched condition or tendentiously in the region of the device in a tendentiously compressed condition, together with said one or said further layers (6, 21), while retaining the compression. For improving a multiple needle sewing machine of the above-described type to the effect that it is possible to produce almost any sewing pattern while simultaneously facilitating the handling, it is proposed with the invention that the device which is arranged upstream of the sewing unit includes cylinders (33, 34) which guide the layers to be sewn together (6, 15, 21) and which are adapted for being automatically driven.