Abstract: A simple yarn unwinding apparatus which enables smooth and regular yarn unwinding of bobbins and thereby reduces yarn breakage. The apparatus comprises a bobbin of yarn mounted on a frame, a yarn take-up device for pulling the yarn from said bobbin. A light yarn guide is rotatably mounted on the frame coaxial with the bobbin and substantially frictionless upon rotation. The yarn guide is provided with a yarn passage along its axis of rotation and terminating short of the side of the bobbin opening on the yarn to gradually radially displace the yarn from the bobbin and to convey it to said yarn take-up device, while converting the motion from rotational into translational and dampening of abrupt motions of the yarn leaving the bobbin.