For some reason I had a 6' piece of 5/16 yellow polypro three strand in my backpack.  I was sitting in class, bored, when I thought, "...if I unweave this rope, I might be able to weave a loop back into the end."  I'd seen splices, but never really thought twice about it before.  That was the year 2000.  I finished that first splice and have been addicted ever since.