A racking mechanism for a circular knitting machine includes at least four pawls drivable in succession in synchronization with needle cylinder movement on the knitting machine, and an evenly cut rack wheel which may be attached to a pattern drum of the knitting machine with elements to cause the pawls to selectively engage the rackwheel and to rack the pattern drum as and when required during a racking sequence.In a particular embodiment, the racking mechanism includes a device to enable all pawls to be bluffed outside a racking sequence which device can be triggered to unbluff from a timing chain stud and can be operated to bluff at the end of a sequence by a cam piece on the rackwheel.