A method for preparing a tubular article, such as a sock or the like, for automated pickup at the end of its forming on a double cylinder circular machine with at least one feed or drop and with the needle cylinders actuatable with a rotary motion about their own axes with respect to needle actuation cams, to cams for actuating the knockover sinkers , and to said feed or drop , characterized in that it comprises at least the following seven consecutive steps: - a first step, which consists in transferring or retaining all the needles with the loops of the last-formed row of knitting of the article hooked in the upper head of the needles to or in the lower needle cylinder and tensioning the article downward inside the lower needle cylinder by means of a suck and blow tube ; - a second step, which, after a last row of knitting has been formed, consists in pushing upward, by means of the suck and blow tube , the portion of the article engaged with the needles ; - a third step, which consists in moving all the needles to the tuck stitch position; - a fourth step, which consists in progressively disengaging the knockover sinkers from the article , moving the knockover sinkers away from the axis of the lower needle cylinder at said feed or drop owing to the rotation of the lower needle cylinder about its own axis with respect to said feed or drop and to said needle actuation cams so that said article , owing to the upward thrust, moves so that the loops of its last row of knitting lie above the beak of the knockover sinkers toward the upper head of the needles ; - a fifth step, which consists in moving all the needles to an intermediate position that is comprised between the tuck stitch position and the drop stitch position; - a sixth step, which consists in pushing the portion of the article that is engaged with the needles further upward by further lifting the suck and blow tube ; - a seventh step, which consists in lifting all the needles at least to the drop stitch position, keeping the article pushed upward in order to retain the loops of the last row of knitting in the upper head of the needles . - a first step, which consists in transferring or retaining all the needles with the loops of the last-formed row of knitting of the article hooked in the upper head of the needles to or in the lower needle cylinder and tensioning the article downward inside the lower needle cylinder by means of a suck and blow tube ; - a second step, which, after a last row of knitting has been formed, consists in pushing upward, by means of the suck and blow tube , the portion of the article engaged with the needles ; - a third step, which consists in moving all the needles to the tuck stitch position; - a fourth step, which consists in progressively disengaging the knockover sinkers from the article , moving the knockover sinkers away from the axis of the lower needle cylinder at said feed or drop owing to the rotation of the lower needle cylinder about its own axis with respect to said feed or drop and to said needle actuation cams so that said article , owing to the upward thrust, moves so that the loops of its last row of knitting lie above the beak of the knockover sinkers toward the upper head of the needles ; - a fifth step, which consists in moving all the needles to an intermediate position that is comprised between the tuck stitch position and the drop stitch position; - a sixth step, which consists in pushing the portion of the article that is engaged with the needles further upward by further lifting the suck and blow tube ; - a seventh step, which consists in lifting all the needles at least to the drop stitch position, keeping the article pushed upward in order to retain the loops of the last row of knitting in the upper head of the needles . <EOS>