An apparatus for knotting at least one string of material having a first end and second end comprising: a) a fixed knotter plate having a first surface and a second surface, each surface having an aperture (114, 116) such that a conduit is formed from the first aperture on the first surface to the second surface; b) a primary knotter plate having a first surface and a second surface, wherein: i) each surface (120, 122) of the primary knotter plate has an aperture (124, 126) such that a conduit is formed from the first surface to the second surface of the primary knotter plate; ii) the first surface of the primary knotter plate includes a primary pathway formed thereon having a first end aligned with the aperture of said second surface of the fixed knotter plate and a second end; c) a secondary knotter plate having a first surface, a second surface and a third surface, the third surface having formed therein a secondary pathway extending to the second surface forming two apertures, wherein when the apertures of the second surface of the secondary knotter plate are aligned with the second end of the primary pathway and the aperture of the first surface of the primary knotter plate, thereby forming a closed conduit from the aperture of the first surface of the fixed knotter plate to the aperture of the second surface of the primary knotter plate; d) a press shoe that is slidable perpendicular to the axis of the conduit of the primary knotter plate to apply tension to the string having a first surface and a second surface, each press shoe surface (150, 152) having an aperture (148, 154) such that a conduit is formed from the first surface to the second surface, wherein the aperture of said first surface of said press shoe is aligned with the aperture of the second surface of said primary knotter plate; and e) a vacuum source. a) a fixed knotter plate having a first surface and a second surface, each surface having an aperture (114, 116) such that a conduit is formed from the first aperture on the first surface to the second surface; b) a primary knotter plate having a first surface and a second surface, wherein: i) each surface (120, 122) of the primary knotter plate has an aperture (124, 126) such that a conduit is formed from the first surface to the second surface of the primary knotter plate; ii) the first surface of the primary knotter plate includes a primary pathway formed thereon having a first end aligned with the aperture of said second surface of the fixed knotter plate and a second end; i) each surface (120, 122) of the primary knotter plate has an aperture (124, 126) such that a conduit is formed from the first surface to the second surface of the primary knotter plate; ii) the first surface of the primary knotter plate includes a primary pathway formed thereon having a first end aligned with the aperture of said second surface of the fixed knotter plate and a second end; c) a secondary knotter plate having a first surface, a second surface and a third surface, the third surface having formed therein a secondary pathway extending to the second surface forming two apertures, wherein when the apertures of the second surface of the secondary knotter plate are aligned with the second end of the primary pathway and the aperture of the first surface of the primary knotter plate, thereby forming a closed conduit from the aperture of the first surface of the fixed knotter plate to the aperture of the second surface of the primary knotter plate; d) a press shoe that is slidable perpendicular to the axis of the conduit of the primary knotter plate to apply tension to the string having a first surface and a second surface, each press shoe surface (150, 152) having an aperture (148, 154) such that a conduit is formed from the first surface to the second surface, wherein the aperture of said first surface of said press shoe is aligned with the aperture of the second surface of said primary knotter plate; and e) a vacuum source.