A method for selecting needles in a flatbed knitting machine (61, 111) to knit a fabric by a carriage (3, 113), on which plural sets of cam systems (4a, 4b, 4c) for knit-driving are mounted and which runs back and forth along a needle bed, by providing a needle selecting mechanism (5a, 5b, 5c, 6a, 6b, 6c) to divide knitting needles into two groups on both sides in the running direction of each cam system (4a, 4b, 4c), and by selecting needles in two steps between cam systems (4a, 4b, 4c) when adjacent cam systems (4a, 4b, 4c) are used together, wherein; when the carriage (3, 113) runs to one side and then reverses running direction to the other side, and if all the cam systems (4a, 4b, 4c) being disposed on the other side of the cam systems (4a, 4b, 4c) used for knitting the fabric are not used; in such manner that, when the carriage (3, 113) runs out from one side of a knitting width of the fabric, the carriage (3, 113) is able to stop at a position where a needle selecting mechanism (5a, 5b, 5c, 6a, 6b, 6c) on the other side of the cam systems (4a, 4b, 4c) in use runs out at least the knitting width; and at the end portion on the one side of the knitting width in which a needle selecting mechanism (5a, 5b, 5c, 6a, 6b, 6c) which leads the needle selecting mechanism (5a, 5b, 5c, 6a, 6b, 6c) on the other side cannot select needles even when the carriage (3, 113) reverses the running direction to the other side, one-step needle selection is conducted as a preliminary needle selection in the needle selecting mechanism (5a, 5b, 5c, 6a, 6b, 6c) on the other side of the cam system in use when the carriage (3 113) runs to the one side before reversing the running direction, and in a needle selecting mechanism (5a, 5b, 5c, 6a, 6b, 6c) on the other side of the needle selecting mechanism (5a, 5b, 5c, 6a, 6b, 6c) which conducted the preliminary needle selection, keeping the preliminary needle selection state so as not to be disarrayed. when the carriage (3, 113) runs to one side and then reverses running direction to the other side, and if all the cam systems (4a, 4b, 4c) being disposed on the other side of the cam systems (4a, 4b, 4c) used for knitting the fabric are not used; in such manner that, when the carriage (3, 113) runs out from one side of a knitting width of the fabric, the carriage (3, 113) is able to stop at a position where a needle selecting mechanism (5a, 5b, 5c, 6a, 6b, 6c) on the other side of the cam systems (4a, 4b, 4c) in use runs out at least the knitting width; and at the end portion on the one side of the knitting width in which a needle selecting mechanism (5a, 5b, 5c, 6a, 6b, 6c) which leads the needle selecting mechanism (5a, 5b, 5c, 6a, 6b, 6c) on the other side cannot select needles even when the carriage (3, 113) reverses the running direction to the other side, one-step needle selection is conducted as a preliminary needle selection in the needle selecting mechanism (5a, 5b, 5c, 6a, 6b, 6c) on the other side of the cam system in use when the carriage (3 113) runs to the one side before reversing the running direction, and in a needle selecting mechanism (5a, 5b, 5c, 6a, 6b, 6c) on the other side of the needle selecting mechanism (5a, 5b, 5c, 6a, 6b, 6c) which conducted the preliminary needle selection, keeping the preliminary needle selection state so as not to be disarrayed.