Abstract: A yarn package and apparatus for winding covered yarn: (a) the yarn package comprising a cylinder, the surfaces of which vary no more than .+-.0.001 of an inch and fiber wound on the cylinder; and (b) the apparatus for producing covered yarn comprising a feed means for feeding a supply of elastomeric filament to a pirn assembly; a spindle means; at least one pirn assembly comprising a cylinder, the surfaces of which vary no more than .+-.0.001 of an inch, and a balloon cap comprising a shank portion and a head portion, the shank portion received in and axially nested inside of one end of the cylinder the head portion having a diameter greater than that of the diameter of the cylinder, the spindle being axially nested inside of the cylinder; a take-up assembly; and a means to rotate the spindle, feed means and take-up assembly.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for winding covered yarn, namely non-elastic yarn twisted about a strand of elastomeric yarn, on a core to form a take-up package so that the wound covered yarn can be drawn (unwound) from the package without hanging up on itself or puckering.