position signals received via the position input 25 in fig1 this is characterized by a corresponding bi directional data connection 29 the control device 23 converts the received pattern data into control data for the thread feeding devices 18 19 the conversion between the received pattern data and control data is executed in an embodiment of the invention according to given logic rules which can be input for example via an input device 31 in the form of a keyboard or other input means and or with reference to a display device 32 for example in the form of a monitor or display for this purpose input masks 33 in which count values can be entered are displayed on the display device 32 in an embodiment of the invention the input masks 33 may assist the user in inputting advance angles or lag angles these values may be given for example by the distance from the holding position 16 to the stitching position 14 and thus relate to structural details of the knitting machine 1 in particular this data relates to advance or delay angles lag angles that define the number of increments of the position sensor that the thread requirements actually rise or fall before or after a switching command given to the switching element 8 or 8 a having discussed the knitting machine 1 generally the following section discusses the function of the control device 23 in the operation of knitting machine 1 in greater detail in this embodiment of.