A tufting machine for forming tufted articles such as carpets including one or more needle bars carrying a series of spaced needles. The needles are arranged in 2 or more transverse rows of needles, with the needles of each transverse row of needles being mounted in a mini-staggered arrangement along the one or more needle bars. A series of gauge parts are mounted below backing material passing through the tufting machine. The gauge parts each engage corresponding ones of the needles of each transverse row of needles following penetration of the backing material by the needles, so as to form multiple tufts of yarns in the backing material.