A strand collecting apparatus and method of the type in which the strand is split into bundles and advanced by, and wound onto, a rotating collet is disclosed. The strand is traversed linearly of the axis of rotation of the collet by the rotation of a rotating strand traverse. The strand traverse is oscillated in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the collet, and a strand splitter oscillates in phase with the strand traverse to guide the strand into engagement with the strand traverse.