indicated by the arrow the compliant drive links 52 in turn move fabric 20 from left to right through their contact with fabric edge holders 32 without the compliant drive link mechanism frictional drag along guide slot 34 would cause distortion near the edges of the fabric 20 being tentered the compliant drive links 52 designed as leaf springs apply sufficient force to each fabric edge holder 32 to overcome friction in the guide slot 34 it may be readily observed that should the need arise the drive chain 50 and fabric 20 may be driven in either direction when reversed the compliant drive links 52 engage with the projecting member 72 on the top surface of the next fabric edge holder 32 in line if and when the fabric 20 stretches lengthwise during tentering the separation between adjacent fabric edge holders 32 is permitted to increase by the design of the present invention this eliminates the distortion or bowing of the fabric commonly observed during the use of prior art tentering machines the compliant drive links 52 permit increased fabric edge holder 32 spacing the compliant drive link 52 force may be selected by varying the spring constant of the compliant drive link 52 where there is a considerable amount of lengthwise stretching in the tentered fabric 20 the present invention permits a fabric edge holder 32 to overrun one compliant drive link 52 and to be picked up by the next compliant drive link 52 in line this may be seen in fig2 in fabric edge holder 76 one.