Nestled beside Scoops on the McDonough Square is The Square Knot, a lovely hideaway where people gather to shop, craft and socialize. Ironically, it was on a Scoop’s bench that the store came to life, birthed from frustration over the lack of quality fiber arts stores south of Atlanta.

“My husband I were sitting on the bench, eating ice cream, and I noticed that Mrs. Maureen’s was still for sale,” said owner, Melissa Pham. “My best friend Maria Prange and I had been talking about opening a local store for years. We were tired of driving an hour or more for supplies.”  The Phams purchased the building at 7 Keys Ferry Street, while Prange applied her interior decorating skills to create a welcoming, modern space.

Pham fell in love with fiber art in the fourth grade when her class learned how to cross stitch and refined her skills by stitching with her grandmother. Three years ago, Prange’s daughter Lilly taught Pham how to crochet. Despite her experience, Pham claims to lack natural ability. “I don’t have a creative bone in my body,” she says with a laugh.

The Square Knot opened in 2023, drawing creative artisans from across the south side. Pham says the Covid pandemic was good for relaunching interest in what she jokingly calls “Grandma Crafts.”

“Younger generations found these during Covid and realized they’re great for socialization, mental health and being productive. The idea of the store is that we all love these crafts and have fun doing them together,” said Pham. They offer beginning and intermediate classes in crochet and knitting, and hope to offer cross-stitch lessons soon.

This summer, the store is offering a tote bag class. Students will learn how to crochet an open-stitch, cotton mesh tote bag. “It’s very airy and breathable,” said Pham. “It’s perfect for the beach or farmer’s market; a very eco-conscious choice to create your own tote and use that.”

Prange says the tote’s pattern is suitable for all skill levels. “Once you get past the initial stitching and learn how to hold your yarn, you’ll get through the bottom and sides and then keep going at home,” she said. “If you have any questions, drop in to the store or come back for Social Hour.”

The store hosts Social Hour one morning and one evening each week and invites people to bring a project to work on. All are welcome. “It’s like Central Perk on ‘Friends’, that space where people hang out. It’s always fun to see the different personalities coming through their projects,” said Pham.

For more information on classes, visit www.thesquareknot.com or call (678) 400-4089.

By Kari Apted