a circular knitting machine has sinkers arranged for radially reciprocating around an upper portion of a cylinder , and latch needles arranged around the upper portion &# 39 ; s perimeter for reciprocating along the axis of the cylinder . selected ones of the needles draw down a lay - in yarn while the sinkers between the selected needles remain in a pushed forward position , so that the lay - in yarn overrides the nibs of the sinkers . in a preferred embodiment , each forth needle , and only each fourth needle , is selected to draw down a lay - in yarn , and four sinkers are positioned between each adjacent pair of the selected needles so that the lay - in yarn overrides four nibs between each draw down . the selected and non - selected needles engage jersey yarns at other knitting stations . this circular knitting machine can be adapted from existing knitting machines .