A device for the drawing of a knitted article in a circular stocking knitting machine. The device includes a tubular element (14), which extends coaxially and rotates with the cylinder of the machine, but is capable of axial movements between a raised position and a lowered position, and a locking element (15), which is arranged and can be moved independently towards and away from one end of the tubular element and can be moved together with the said tubular element. The locking element (15) engages with the end of the tubular element (14) in order to lock the manufactured article, to draw the latter while it is manufactured and to release it for the purpose of discharging it.