Abstract: The needle selection device has multiple selectors arranged in axial grooves formed in the skirt of the needle cylinder, each selector arranged below a needle and oscillatable in a radial plane of the needle cylinder from an active position, in which a butt protrudes radially from its groove, for the engagement of the butt with cams for actuating the selectors arranged around the needle cylinder to move the selectors along their groove in the needle cylinder so as to activate the overlying needle, to an inactive position, in which the selector is positioned in its groove in the needle cylinder so that it does not interfere with the selector actuation cams. The device has selector extraction elements to transfer the selectors from the inactive position to the active position and selection elements to transfer the selectors from the active position to the inactive position or to keep them in the active position.