Abstract: A guide encloses a group of traveling filaments arranged in a pattern forming a main longitudinal axis. The guide comprises a carrier movable toward and away from the filament group. A plurality of relatively movable members are mounted on the carrier for movement between open and closed positions. Those members form a through-passage for the filament group in the closed position. An actuating mechanism is operatively connected to the carrier and members for extending the carrier toward the filament group, and closing the members around the filaments to converge the filaments. Thereafter, the carrier is retracted to a position where a longitudinal axis of the through-passage is substantially aligned with the main longitudinal axis formed by the filament group.