Abstract: Needles for knitting machines are disclosed which are effective in preventing damage to the head and abrasion loss of the butt. In a needle having a bridge, stem and/or guide piece, the width of the bridge, stem and/or the guide piece is wider at the side which is nearer to the butt, than at the side which is farther from the butt. When such a needle has more than one bridge, more than one stem, and/or more than one guide piece, the width of at least one bridge, stem and/or guide piece which is nearer to the butt is wider than that of the bridge, stem and/or guide piece which is farther from the butt.

Abstract: Damages to the butt of a needle having bridges used in a raceway circular knitting machine, an eight-lock circular knitting machine or an interlock circular knitting machine can be prevented by using a combination of at least two kinds of needles with different butt positions in the same knitting machine. The butt of a needle is positioned right next to a bridge of the adjacent needle.