the needles 12 may include a plurality of vents or holes 15 the holes communicate an exterior surface 17 with an interior surface 19 of the needle 12 furthermore the holes 12 may be drilled or otherwise formed in the needle 12 during the process of making the needles 12 at at least one angle u03b1 relative to an axis 21 located along the length of the needle 12 and directed in the upward direction toward the needle bar 42 it is preferred that a single angle u03b1 be between about 5 and about 80 degrees between about 10 and about 70 degrees between about 15 and about 60 degrees and between about 20 and about 45 degrees multiple angles u03b1 could also be utilized as illustrated in fig3 yarns 54 a f enter the needle 12 at inlet 23 and proceed into the needle cavity 25 where they remain until one of the yarns is selected for use as described above once selected for use the yarn exits the cavity 25 at yarn exit 13 and may be sewn or tufted into a backing material when the point 27 penetrates the body material since all the yarns that are to be selected to be sewn by a needle remain within the needle the yarn exchangers are not required this provides space for additional yarn feed mechanisms so that banks of such mechanisms may be aligned transversely at both upper and lower locations as illustrated in fig2 thus at least twice the number of feed mechanisms may be used this thereby allows at least twice the number of needles and hence at least twice the effective speed of the machine relative to the prior art a reduction in mass of reciprocating parts also affords.