Abstract: A mechanism selects and controls the raising and lowering of needles in circular and flat bed knitting machines having a plurality of adjacent needles. A rocking pusher is provided for each needle to move each needle back and forth between an outwardly projecting active position and an inward inactive position. Each rocking pusher is engaged with a corresponding cam when the needle is in the engaged position, and is disengaged from the cam in the inactive position. A deflector corresponds to each rocking pusher, and is engageable with a cam profile, which determines the movement of the deflector for its engagement with the rocking pusher. This moves the rocking pusher from the active position to the inactive position. A controllable retaining member engages the deflector to cause the engagement of the deflector with the cam profile. The retaining member is controlled by a control program member, which is controlled by a control program.