Abstract: A system and method for winding at least one continuous strand of material (210) on a rotating support (212) to form a strand package or cake includes a rotatable traversing apparatus (216) for causing the at least one strand of material to reciprocate along a length of the rotating support (212) for even distribution in forming the package or cake. A plurality of strands can be wound simultaneously, the traversing apparatus having a form and operating orientation that generally maintains a parallel separation of the several strands while being wound on the support. The strand material may be, for example, glass, and a winding system may further include a source of glass strands, including a source of glass fibers (102) and a grouping mechanism (108, 208) for grouping respective pluralities of glass fibers into respective strands of glass fiber.