Abstract: A knitting needle and method for making the knitting needle are disclosed. The knitting needle comprises a shank having a head portion, a butt end portion, and a blade therebetween. The head portion has a cheek portion, a latch pivotally secured in the cheek portion, and a hook adjacent to the cheek portion. The blade having a front side portion parallel to a rear side portion, and a loop tension release notch portion between the front side portion and the cheek portion. The loop tension release notch portion is formed below a plane formed by the front side portion. In another embodiment, the loop tension release notch portion is formed of a continuous curvature in a taper mill needle. The method includes forming a needle having a head portion including a cheek portion and a hook adjacent to the cheek portion, and a blade having a reduced height front side portion parallel to a rear side portion.

Abstract: A knitting needle of the type used in industrial knitting machines is provided in the shank, typically distally of and adjacent the driving butt, with a bow-spring portion acting as a shock absorber for the needle during its acceleration and deceleration. The bow-spring portion is stabilized on either longitudinal side thereof by shank portions aligned with the transverse dimensional boundaries of the shank. The convex limit of the bow-spring is spaced from the opposed transverse dimensional boundary by a distance sufficient to enable the spring to flex transversely under compression without reaching the transverse boundary. This structure facilitates high-speed operation of the needle and tends avoid fatigue failure of the hook.