Abstract: A twisting apparatus has a spindle extending along an upright axis, having an upper end and a rotatable lower end, and formed with a passage opening axially upwardly at the upper end and radially outwardly at the lower end. A bobbin support is rotatably carried on the spindle between the ends thereof and is provided with four angularly equispaced bobbin holders radially equispaced from the axis. Two of the diametrally opposite supports carry main bobbins and the other two carry reserve bobbins, with the leading ends of the yarns of the reserve bobbins being tied to the tail ends of the yarns of the main bobbins. The spindle is rotated about the axis while the bobbin support is held against rotation. The leading ends of the yarns of the main bobbins are led down through the passage and up around the bobbin support while the spindle is rotating to wind the yarns together and form a balloon around the support. The bobbins can be standard small-diameter bobbins such as come directly from a spinning machine.