To produce pattern work and plain jersey, and comprising sets of selection levers for controlling needles which are to be lifted to a higher loop-clearing height and to a lower loop-retaining height, interacting with oscillating selectors, the machine comprises in combination: symmetrical lifting cams (20, 32); symmetrical lowering cams (441; 442; 443; 444) and corresponding counter cams (461; 462; 463; 464) defining two adjacent zones of maximum lowering; pushing cams (490) arranged between these two zones, to exclude the butts of the needles from the action of the second zone of maximum lowering; symmetrically arranged pushing realignment cams (501A, 501B; 502A, 502B; 503A, 503B; 504A, 504B and 511A, 511B; 512A, 512B; 513A, 513B; 514A, 514B), to prepare all the butts in a row of butts of selectors for selection; partial-lowering cams (20C) to predispose for selection; and cams (701; 703) for the partial re-lifting of selectors of unlifted needles, and for their realignment with the selectors of needles previously lifted for the purpose of drawing yarn.