The project has been tied up in political and legal 'knots' for years. [=nothing has happened with the project for years because of political and legal problems]
The mayor 'tied himself in knots' answering a touchy political question. [=he answered it in a confused or unclear way]
She 'knotted' a sweater around her shoulders. [=tied the sleeves of the sweater together around her shoulders]
(..) -It was a very good line. But you're laughing at it. -Not so much it as you. -Well, that's fine then. I figured out what that is. It's an Algerian love knot. Really? I thought it was just something pretty. No, you didn't. Someone gave that to you. He's a very lucky man. (..)2006 Casino Royale