A knitting machine provided with at least one first drive shaft assembly (10, 28, 29) and a second drive shaft arrangement (11, 30, 31), said first drive shaft assembly (10, 28, 29) and the second drive shaft arrangement (11, 30, 31) running parallel axes (21, 22) have, the first drive shaft arrangement (10, 28, 29) having at least a first connecting rod (18) having a first connecting rod end, is connected, and the second drive shaft arrangement (11, 30, 31) is connected to at least one second connecting rod (19) having a second connecting rod eye. Great freedom in the design is expected of the knitting machine. For this purpose, it is provided that the at least one second connecting rod (19) has a recess which is passed through the first drive shaft arrangement (10, 28, 29).