needle 1 with the yarn 5 passing through the needle eye 6 thereof is punched through a backing fabric beneath which a corresponding looper 7 catches and holds a loop of yarn as the needle 1 is withdrawn the shaped passage in the needle 1 as it is withdrawn upwards ensures free movement of the yarn 5 as it passes along the channel or recess 4 to the needle eye 6 as the yarn 5 is allowed to move so as to be deviated or unimpeded as little as possible as it passes through the needle eye 6 in the regions a and b of the needle 1 the yarn 5 runs more smoothly therethrough particularly when joints and lumps occur as a straighter flow of yarn occurs when the yarn 5 is caught and held by the looper 7 when and if unintentional increases in tension occur the rounded off portion 8 which is engaged with the loop in the yarn 5 reduces the tendency of the looper 7 to cut or break the yarn 5 thus by the replacement of conventional needles and or looper with needles and loopers according to the present invention a substantial reduction in the breakage of yarns due to the jamming sticking or breaking associated with.