and fro or back and forth movement along the edges of both fabric portions 1a and 1b adjacent the knitting needle 13 there is secured on the oscillating or rocker lever 14 a movable support means defining a deflection element or member 18 cooperating with such deflection element 18 is an actuation lever or element 19 which is secured to a shaft 20 and can be moved up and down in the direction of the double headed arrow b in order to rotate the shaft 20 there is provided a revolving control cam or disk 21 which cooperates with a roller or cam follower 22 which is arranged at an arm 23 attached to the shaft 20 a tension spring 24 or the like engages the arm 23 in order to bias the roller 22 against the control cam 21 during its downward movement the actuation lever 19 presses against the elastically or resiliently deflectable deflection element 18 and moves such from its rest position into its operative or knitting position the deflection element 18 located in its so called knitting position has been illustrated in broken or phantom lines and designated by reference character 18 39 in the operative or knitting position indicated by reference character 18 39 the deflection element 18.