“These things are remnants of a maritime culture that has vanished. They were the product of both inspiration and boredom, or, you might say, the inspiration of boredom — a creative outlet for sailors on long voyages who had many idle hours to fill. Most seamen were illiterate, and rope was plentiful. Knots were the humble medium they embraced to kill time, serve their muses and, literally, make their beds: to stitch the hammocks in which they slept.”
–Jody Rosen