Abstract: An apparatus and method for unwinding yarns with: (1) a drive roll with a polished metal finish to ensure good fiber/metal contact; (2) a drive roll/separator roll combination that enables multiple wraps of yarn on the drive roll; (3) pivoting yarn holding arms for the active and standby packages that provide for easier access to the packages on a frame; and (4) in combination with the pivoting yarn holding arms, one or more pivoting legs extending from a frame so that the apparatus has a relatively small footprint and simplified yarn threading/string-up as compared to background art OETO apparatus.