Abstract: A method and apparatus for knitting a seamless tubular fabric of 2.times.1 rib stitch uses a flat knitting machine having at least one front needle bed and at least one back needle bed. The beds extend sideways and abut against each other in a front-back relationship with a trick gap between them. The needles are preferably arranged in units consisting of six needles on the front needle bed and six needles on the back needle bed. The first and sixth needle on both the front and back beds are used to form face stitches. The second and forth needles of one needle bed and the third and fifth needles of the other bed are used to form back stitches. The remaining needles are used to align the stitches. At least one of the needle beds is preferably capable of racking sideways and transferring stitches between the needle beds. The resulting tubular fabric is especially suited for rib hem parts and similar fabric components.