Apparatus and method for coloring yarn continuously in sheets thereof, the apparatus including a spatial sequence apparatus for testing the yarn by pre-stressing; a yarn tension relaxing means; a printing apparatus for coloring the yarn in an accurately predetermined longitudinal pattern; control means for correcting wet yarn length increase as the yarn progresses through the printer; wet hot box for fixation of the dye stuff onto the yarn fiber; yarn washing means; combined apparatus for yarn drying and/or stress relieving by raising the yarn temperature; yarn relative lateral displacement means; yarn longitudinal displacement means; and finally a tufting machine or a take up means such as a beam. The method steps include sequentially testing the yarn for weakness, coloring the yarn while relaxed, fixation of the dye stuff on the yarn, washing the yarn, drying and/or setting the yarn, laterally and longitudinally realigning the yarns of the sheet to obtain individual yarn positions eventually resulting in a desired pattern, and finally leading the yarn directly to a tufting machine or winding the yarn on beams or other packages which will later feed into a tufting machine. In the description, the word "printing" is used synonymously with the word "coloring."