Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for winding a yarn on a package are disclosed. The apparatus comprises the package supported on a pair of cradle arms and driven by a friction roller, with a traverse guide disposed between a traverse drum and a cam plate so as to reciprocatingly traverse the yarn from one end of the package to the other. The traverse cam plate is positionally controlled to vary the width of the traverse by an arcuate cam, affixed to the cradle arm, acting on a first pivoting lever connected by a rod to the cam plate such that the width of the traverse is decreased as the package size grows. A second cam, affixed to the cradle arm acts on a second lever during an initial winding period to maintain a pivot axis of the first lever in a fixed position.