Sewing machine

A sewing machine that is capable of hemming a fabric retained in a tubular shape, comprising:

• a fabric folding device that is located on a front side of a needle hole and includes a guide member that is movable relative to the fabric and a stationary member that is located adjacent to the guide member;
• and
• a retraction detection member that is located on a front side of the guide member and includes a pair of electric contacts that enable electric conduction by contacting with each other, the retraction detection member being configured to switch an operational state of the pair of electric contacts by abutment of a start point of a hemming seam with the retraction detection member in association with movement of the fabric in sewing the fabric,
• wherein the guide member is moved by switching the operational state of the pair of electric contacts so as to retract from a path of the start point moved along with movement of the fabric.