A secure fastening made by tying or interweaving rope or string. Knots play an important part in sailing and in nautical life, the ability to use the right knot for the right occasions an essential survival skill.
In creating textiles and finishes knotting techniques are less about life and death, more about keeping things in their place for decorative reason. Inherent to the construction of many needle workings, knots form an integral part in mesh; bobbin lace making; buttonhole stitches; macramé; frogging etc. stitches and weaves that depend on the uniformity and stability of knots to create an even rhythmic pattern.
Knotting for ties, bows etc. is rarely an exact science as the point of ties is informality, although where there are rows of ties, they do look might smarter when they are all tied, knotted rolling the same order.
Rugs and carpets can be knotted, either by hand (the most durable) or machine, often by working wool, cotton or silk as a way of holding the yarn into a background mesh:
a) hand-knotting: the fibre is cut into even length tufts, which are each knotted into every square of the background open mesh using a rug making hook. This produces the most durable rugs and carpets.
b) machine-knotting: typically for carpets such as Axminster or Wilton, in velvet or twist pile.