Abstract: Method and apparatus for forming a twisted skein in a filament for use in a coil winding machine without severing the filament. The apparatus is provided with a pair of spaced apart filament guides between which are located looping needles about which the filament is wound by a looping element carried by an endless drive member. When the required numbers of loops have been formed about the needles, one needle is rotated, causing the loops to be formed into a skein. An electromagnet wire tensioner and a closed loop automatic wire tensioning system are also described.