Abstract: A process for freeing up and removing defective picks during weaving includes inserting fine needles between the previous inserted weft and the just inserted weft before beating up of the latter and utilizing the needles to remove the defective pick by horizontally moving the defective pick toward the retracted reed in the shed. A suitable extraction means such as a suction tube removes the freed up weft thread from the shed area. Apparatus for carrying out the process includes a cam arrangement movable with the sley shaft to precisely coordinate the action of the needles, which move vertically into the fabric and horizontally to displace the defective pick toward the reed.