Abstract: Method and apparatus for eliminating the formation of stop marks during the tufting of carpets by stopping the needle bar at substantially the same position each time the machine is stopped by varying start-up procedures in order to remove any looseness in the yarn feed system and for providing an initial overfed supply of yarn and employing means for providing a soft start for the main tufting machine drive motor. By restarting the tufting machine in a slow, even manner and by having the starting of the yarn feed system precede the restarting of the main drive motor for the tufting machine yarn feed can be controlled thereby producing in phase, synchronized start-ups which do not cause a loss of pile height in the last tufted row or rows of pile loops.