Abstract: A flat knitting machine comprises flexible shank needles arranged in the dle channels of the needle bed, and, arranged behind these, jacquard jacks as well as a cam system which is movable over the needle bed and which comprises interengageable needle, jacquard and selection cam units which have fixed and shiftable cam elements. In order to create the possibility of selection for the flexible shank needles with sinkable needle butts, and in which the needle channel cutting is without interruption, i.e. can be produced with constant depth by one cutting pass, the flexible shank needles have an anterior first needle butt always projecting from the needle bed and a posterior second needle butt which sinks into the needle bed under the resilience of its own flexible shank.