To reliably draw out a thread end of a thread retained on a thread retaining unit.

When a thread Y supplied from a thread supply unit to a thread retainer 70 is separated from the thread Y retained by being wound on the thread retainer 70, a tubular winding arm 75 for winding the thread Y on the thread retainer 70 is caused to generate a flow of air toward the thread supply unit so that the thread end wound on the thread retainer 70 can be drawn out by suctioning, and then the thread end is connected with the thread end on the thread supply unit side. A tip portion of the winding arm 75 extends in a tangential direction of the thread retainer 70 in plan view. In the thread retainer 70, the thread Y is wound by the winding arm 75 across a lower end portion of six rollers 71 disposed along a virtual circumference R and a winding support surface 74a of slope members 74 disposed between the rollers 71. An upper surface of the lower end portion of the rollers 71 and the winding support surface 74a form a plane substantially continuously extending along the virtual circumference R such that the thread Y can be wound in a substantially circular shape in plan view.