A pattern mechanism for a knitting machine which is adapted to selectively control longitudinal movement of needles in their slots. The needles are provided with jacks in operating relationship thereto for moving the needle in a longitudinal direction. A separate butt element is carried by the jack and is movable relative to the jack both longitudinally and transversely in at least two alternate modes. One of the modes provides lesser longitudinal free movement of the butt element relative to the jack body than the other of the modes. All of the butt elements carried by a series of jack bodies are cammed to the mode which permits greater longitudinal free movement. Selected ones of the butts are moved to the mode providing lesser longitudinal free movement so that only the jack bodies carrying the selected butt elements will be elevated by a raised cam. Therefore, only the selected needles will be raised to clear their inactive positions, while the remaining nonselected needles will remain in either a tuck or a welt position.
