Abstract: A process and apparatus for continuously supplying a textile machine, such as a circular knitting machine, with yarn under constant tension, the yarn being stored transiently and continuously in optimum amount on a negative feed drum type storage feeder, wherein when excessive tension arises during feeding lasting for only a short period (for example 3/10ths of a second) the restoring mode of the feed device is stopped whereby the existing supply of yarn on the drum will be fed to the needles. Additionally, when said excessive tension lasts for a period longer than the above short limit but at most equal to a middle limit (for example 3 to 30 seconds) the machine is temporarily stopped. In both cases reactivation of the feed drum so that the yarn can be restored to its optimum amount and restarting of the machine automatically occurs if the excessive tension is eliminated within the above time periods.