The straight bar knitting machine is the most popular type

The knitting needle head is a hooked portion of the stem, which draws new yarn into the loop. It then intermeshes into the old loop. A loop needle has the shape of a beard on a chain. The needle head's eye is a groove that is cut into the stem, which is the point where the new loop is inserted. The butt is the straight section of the needle with a protruding butt. The butt is used to bend the head into place in the knitting machine.

The straight bar knitting machine is the most popular type. It has bearded needles on a vertical bar. Its movement is controlled by a cam system. This type of knitting machine has one or two knitting heads that are spaced apart along the length of the machine. The straight bar type is also ideal for rib welts. Double-needle straight bar machines have both a horizontal and a vertical needle bar. However, the performance of the double-needle version of this model is inferior to that of the single-needle model.

Flat bar machines are ideally suited for flat creations but are also applicable to 3D knits. A flat bar knitting machine has two straight bars that are arranged in a "V" formation, which means the needles are evenly spaced along the garment panel. The flat bed can stretch up to 2.5 meters. A double-needle straight bar machine has a horizontal and a vertical needle bar. The performance of double-needle straight bar machines is lower than the single-needle variety.

The straight bar knitting machine has bearded needles on a vertical bar. The vertical bar is controlled by a cam system. A straight bar knitting machine has single needle bars, which are incompatible with the creation of rib welts. A double-needle straight bar machine has a horizontal and vertical needle bar, but the performance of this model is inferior to that of the single-needle variety.

The flatbed machine uses a circular knitting needle head to produce ribs on fabric. Its needles are set perpendicular to the surface of the fabric. The dial and cylinder revolve with cam systems that hold the fabric stationary. The dial and cylinder have two sets of needles that are in parallel position. For ribbed knit fabrics, the dial and cylinder move up and down, while the needles on the dial are positioned horizontally.

Straight bar machines have bearded needles on a vertical bar. They move along the bar using a cam system, and can knit separately along a garment panel. Single-needle machines have one needle bar and cannot knit rib welts. Double-needle straight bar machines have two needle bars. Compared to single-needle machines, double-needle models have a smaller cross-section.