In a yarn tensioning device, two abutting rolls in rotatable engagement at their peripheries have a yarn passed therebetween or around one of the rolls. A resilient covering of at least one of said rolls deforms because of such resilient covering peripherally engaging the other roll. The rolls are rotatably driven by pulling the yarn between the rolls, or around one of the rolls which may be mounted on ball bearings or the like. The inter-roll pressure effected at the peripheral areas of mutual engagement may be regulated by having one roll movable transversely to its axis of rotation and thus, the tension imparted to the yarn pulled between the rolls or over one of the rolls may be regulated accordingly.