A closing device (4) is provided for closing a tube-shaped knit fabric on one end, for example for producing stockings or socks, which has plates (9) and counter-plates (13). The latter each have loop-carrying sections (18, 41), whose ends are designed to be complementary to each other and can engage each other in an interlocked manner. Here, the plates (9) have a receiving end, and the counter-plates (13) a penetrating end. The receiving end is constituted by a receiving funnel (28), formed by the ends of two legs (22, 23). These can be resiliently bent away from each other. This has the advantage that the penetrating counter-plate (13) cannot cause any damage to the plate (9) if it is moved too far in the direction toward the plate (9). There is the further advantage that in the course of the dipping movement of the needle into the free space of the plate, as well as during the relative movements between the needle and the plate, damages are almost impossible.