the hook 18 in which the hook 18 can move freely if the rocking sinker 12 is pushed out of its normal position shown in fig1 into its working position fig2 and 3 furthermore the rearward lever arm 16 with its hook 18 is so bent and formed that it is an interference fit in the needle channel and a frictional braking effect or restraint exists in the needle channel which holds the rocking sinker 12 stable in each pivoted position at the rearward end of the rearward lever arm 16 of the pivoting sinker 12 there is provided a foot 20 extending longitudinally or rearwardly out of the needle bed 2 pressure bars 21 run over the feet 17 17 39 17 34 extending upwardly out of the needle bed and these are so selected in accordance with the pattern that in the course of a pass they either press the associated foot 17 17 39 or 17 34 hard to the upper face 22 of the needle bed or slide over the associated foot now should the pressure bar 21 press the associated foot 17 of the rocking sinker 12 downwardly then the rocking sinker 12 swings about its pivot point defined by the protrusion 14 and lifts or swings with its forward shank 10 the pattern sinker 5 which is uncovered by a cam part 23 on the passage of the carriage so far that its foot 6 extends half out of the needle bed furthermore the foot 20 of the rocking sinker 12 is swung so far downwardly that it can be engaged by a cam element 24 this cam element 24 on the cam carriage now swings the rocking sinker 12.