Abstract: A method and apparatus for the removal of one or more lateral yarns from a woven industrial textile to prepare it for seaming. The apparatus consists of a movable table, a clamping device to hold the fabric, and a yarn removal device, consisting of a cutter and a combined hooked needle & thread catcher. In operation, the yarn removal device moves both vertically into and out of the fabric plane, and horizontally parallel to the longitudinal yarns. The yarn removal device pierces the fabric at two locations, cuts one or more yarns, and then grasps the cut section(s) to pull them down and out of the fabric plane. The cycle is repeated to form a longitudinal channel of desired length; the device is then moved laterally and the cycle repeated until an open channel parallel with the lateral fabric edge is accomplished.