A tuft carrier loading apparatus for loading individual tufts into tuft-retention sites spaced along an elongate tuft carrier which is guided for longitudinal movement along a path of travel having a plurality of individually selectively operable tuft forming devices. Each tuft forming device is operable to feed an individual tuft to a tuft-retention site on the carrier. The carrier moves along said path of travel intermittently through a series of successive positions where predefined tuft retention sites are moved temporarily into registry with each tuft forming devices. By controlling selection of the tuft forming devices, tufts are fed to selected sites while the carrier is located at each successive position.