Abstract: A traversing yarn guide is disclosed which is adapted for reciprocating an advancing yarn or the like to form a wound package on a yarn winding machine of the type which includes a drive roll having a cross spiraled groove, and an adjacent pair of guide rails. The yarn guide includes a body member composed of an elongate follower which is adapted to be received in the groove of the cross spiraled drive roll, and two pairs of guide arms which extend laterally outwardly from the follower, and which have outer edges defining a generally diamond shaped outline in plan view. The yarn guide further includes a yarn engaging member having a slot for receiving and guiding the advancing yarn, and the arms of the body member are composed of a relatively resilient material which provides flexibility to the arms and which has been found to reduce abrasion and fatigue damage and thereby increase the service life of the guide.