Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a novelty yarn, having relatively short varying length and varying size auxiliary strands randomly distributed therealong, on a spinning frame provided with a series of spaced pairs of rotatable drafting elements defining a drafting zone, which drafting elements include a pair of delivery rolls. The novelty yarn is formed by advancing at least one strand of staple fibers into and through the drafting zone while continuously forming therefrom a ground strand of drafted staple fibers emerging from the delivery rolls. An auxiliary strand of staple fibers is fed through the nip of a pair of auxiliary feed rolls and to the nip of the delivery rolls while the auxiliary feed rolls are being rotated at a slower effective speed than the effective speed of the delivery rolls so as to effect a random parting of the auxiliary strand and thereby form relatively short varying length auxiliary strands randomly distributed along the ground strand.

Abstract: A novelty yarn comprising a ground strand of spun staple fibers with relatively short varying length and varying size auxiliary strands of staple fibers randomly distributed along the ground strand and spirally twisted therearound. The largest size auxiliary strands have portions thereof formed of such a large number of fibers so arranged spirally around the ground strand that adjacent turns of those portions overlie and substantially shield the underlying ground strand from view. Other intermediate size auxiliary strands are formed of a lesser number of fibers and are so arranged spirally around the ground strand that both the ground strand and the auxiliary strand are exposed to view. Still other smallest size auxiliary strands are formed of such a few number of fibers arranged spirally around the ground strand so as to be barely discernible thereon. The ground strand and the auxiliary strand may be of the same or of differing color characteristics.