A device comprising a knitting machine and a transfer apparatus for transferring a stocking from the knitting machine to a stitching apparatus to close an open-end of the stocking, the knitting machine including a needle extending vertically and axially and having a hook for forming a loop at the open-end of the stocking, and a latch that is pivotal upward and downward to move to or away from the hook, said transfer apparatus comprising: a strip member extending horizontally and movable axially upward and downward and radially towards and away from the needle, said strip member being capable of contacting the loop on the needle to push the loop toward or away from the hook of the needle; and a transfermember disposedhorizontallyabove said strip member and movable axially upward and downward and radially toward and away from the needle, said transfer member including a tip region for receiving the loop from the hook of the needle when said strip member pushes the loop to the hook, wherein said transfer apparatus is configured to: move said strip member towards the needle to contact the loop on the needle from above and to slide downward the loop from the hook of the needle until the loop passes the latch; move said strip member away from the needle after the loop has passed the latch of the needle; move said strip member toward the needle once again to contact the loop from below and to slide the loop upward and toward the hook; move said transfer member until said transfer member reaches the hook and until the hook extends into said tip region; and further move said strip member upward to push and transfer the loop from the hook to the transfer member.. a strip member extending horizontally and movable axially upward and downward and radially towards and away from the needle, said strip member being capable of contacting the loop on the needle to push the loop toward or away from the hook of the needle; and a transfermember disposedhorizontallyabove said strip member and movable axially upward and downward and radially toward and away from the needle, said transfer member including a tip region for receiving the loop from the hook of the needle when said strip member pushes the loop to the hook, wherein said transfer apparatus is configured to: move said strip member towards the needle to contact the loop on the needle from above and to slide downward the loop from the hook of the needle until the loop passes the latch; move said strip member away from the needle after the loop has passed the latch of the needle; move said strip member toward the needle once again to contact the loop from below and to slide the loop upward and toward the hook; move said transfer member until said transfer member reaches the hook and until the hook extends into said tip region; and further move said strip member upward to push and transfer the loop from the hook to the transfer member.. move said strip member towards the needle to contact the loop on the needle from above and to slide downward the loop from the hook of the needle until the loop passes the latch; move said strip member away from the needle after the loop has passed the latch of the needle; move said strip member toward the needle once again to contact the loop from below and to slide the loop upward and toward the hook; move said transfer member until said transfer member reaches the hook and until the hook extends into said tip region; and further move said strip member upward to push and transfer the loop from the hook to the transfer member..