Abstract: To provide for overall resiliency of a low-profile knitting needle in which the shank (7) has rib portions (16a, 16b) of which one is not more than 1.1 mm in height, the rib portions with spaced guide portions (12) defining therebetween an open window (15), which window is filled with a vibration and shock absorbing material (17) while ensuring retention of the shock absorbing material, one of the rib portions (16a, 16b) is formed with a through-slit (18), the vibration or shock damping material (17) being securely retained within the window without, however, a second rib portion reducing the resiliency of the needle and its ability to absorb shock and vibration transmitted along the length of the shank in operation of the needle in the knitting machine. The slit (18) can be placed at the end of the rib portion, adjacent a guide portion (12), centrally or at any other location along the length of the rib portion.