Abstract: A tufting machine which has improved production rates such that it is capable of being used to produce larger samples of tufted products or is capable of being used for production runs of tufted products, but still retains sufficient flexibility for changes in yarn and construction of the tufted product to be made relatively easily is disclosed.

Abstract: The specification discloses carpet making machinery (10) with at least one needle head (26) and an associated loop forming head (27) disposed on either side of a pile forming station (28) through which a backing material web (29) is adapted to move in incremental steps, the needle head (26) and the loop forming head (27) being arranged to move relative to the backing material web (29) at the pile forming station (28) selectably either in a transverse direction, a longitudinal direction, or both a transverse and a longitudinal direction of the backing material web (29) with the stitching of pile forming loops (96) occurring in one direction across the backing material web (29), the needle head (26) further including a plurality of needle units (47) carried by a rotatable carriage (66) rotatable about an axis (45), said carriage (66) being arranged upon rotation to move each said needle unit (47) selectably to an operative position.