Abstract: A yarn feeder having one or more yarn feeler levers which rest on the yarn with a force which in the desired position of the lever, i.e. with a correct yarn run, is small. If the lever is pivoted out because the yarn tension is decreased or the yarn has broken, the force with which the lever rests on the yarn increases. This is achieved in the illustrated yarn feeler by a relief device which partially compensates for the weight of the lever and provides a compensating force as a function of the pivot angle. The compensating force preferably decreases with an increase in further pivotal movement of the lever.