Abstract: A device for selectively lifting a multiplicity of needles which are mounted to an upstanding, rotatable cylinder for up and down sliding motion. Each needle has a shank with two butts formed in vertically spaced positions thereon, so that there are formed tow rows of such butts extending circumferentially of the cylinder. The upper one, for example, of the two rows of butts includes a group of butts that are longer than the other butts of the same row. Slidably supported adjacent the cylinder are a pair of cams which are independently moved, as by solenoids, toward and away from the cylinder and which have sloping cam surfaces for relatively sliding engagement with the respective rows of butts when the cams are thrusted toward the cylinder in rotation.