A creel is used with a winder having a predetermined width and operable to draw in across this width in a normally horizontal longitudinal transport direction a warp of filaments from respective bobbins. The creel comprises a support frame having respective supports for the bobbins and having a pair of generally like sides each provided with a respective half of the supports. The sides are elongated in the transport direction and have downstream ends spaced by at least the winder width, upstream ends more closely spaced, and inner faces turned transversely inward toward each other. Respective deflectors on the inner faces of the support sides guide the filaments inward and transversely of the transport direction from the respective supports and then longitudinally in the transport direction to the winder. The filaments normally run from the deflectors to the winder without touching any substantial guide structure. A spreader is provided at the downstream ends for raising and splitting the warp of filaments for operator access through the split warp to between the sides of the support frame.