Today we’d like to introduce you to Christie Melki.
Hi Christie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
So, my love for fiber art all started on a homemade loom. I had bought some random ass yarn from Michael’s or Joann’s (I literally didn’t know ANYTHING about yarn at this point!) Then I got bored (ADHD) and picked up a new hobby: CROCHETING! What a magical (and addictive!!) new thing. Thank god for the employee at Joann’s who was gracious and broke it down in layman’s terms for me; that the difference between crochet and knitting is crocheting is done with one hook, and knitting is done with two needles. I thought to myself, surely my left hand isn’t coordinated enough to use a NEEDLE! So, I started with crochet in September 2020, and by January 2021, I had picked up knitting… hey I already had all the yarn!! The impulsive yarn buying just came with the love of the craft(s.) If there was a yarn sale… it was game over! I like to say I have a yarn dungeon… which really just means I have hoarded enough yarn to be able to “shop“ my basement, I mean yarn dungeon, first without having to go to the yarn store every single time I “need” some yarn. Hey, sometimes I really do need it! And if you told me then that I built a following of 2,500 followers on Instagram, that I sell my handmade pieces at markets and events, and that people walk around wearing and enjoying the things that I made with my own two hands… I probably would have laughed at you and said WHO ME? (Side eye!) I can’t even begin to explain how much joy creating every day brings to me continually. As someone who has recently discovered they are autistic, it almost makes sense why crochet and knitting just instantly clicked, unlike anything in my life before!! I look at crochet and knitting almost as a “stim” now! It’s so relaxing and soothing and helps relieve any stress that overwhelms me. Each stitch truly heals me. I’m so grateful to have discovered this side of myself and be able to showcase my talent to those who can really appreciate it.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Learning the different kind of yarns and what to use them for. I would say the hardest part has been online selling… I see consistently that people would rather purchase in person because they like to put a face with a brand and feed off your energy. Which is great, but markets can be very draining for me as an autistic individual… there are sooooo many steps.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I create sensory-friendly handmade knit and crochet heirlooms. I love using jewel tones and earthy and vibrant colors. Some of my favorite things to make are knit beanies (this is what I’m known for) and crochet plush (aka stuffed animals.) I strive to use the softest and nicest material I can find as someone who has sensory issues themselves. I specialize in creating an inspiring space on Instagram for everyone but especially self-diagnosed autistics. I’m just here to brighten your day! I am most proud of the community I have built. From day one, the fiber art community welcomed me with open arms, and every day I am reminded how awesome and magical these people I am honored to walk side by side with are!! What sets me apart from others is my attention to detail and funky color combos… spend 2 minutes with me, and you’ll see for yourself the light I radiate! I want readers to know that I pride myself in handcrafting each and every heirloom with a dash of my soul and a big drop of sunshine. I wish I could keep everything to myself, but I am more than happy to send the pieces to new homes so that they can have a life full of adventure, fun, and happiness! I will be popping up at a few Shelby Township Farmers markets; those are every Saturday starting in May and running through October. This will be my third year participating at Zooflea in Kalamazoo in October as well. The best way to see where I’m going to be next is to follow along on my Instagram, I’m super active on there!
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Oooh, I highly recommend the book Unmasking Autism! TikTok was an incredible resource to open my eyes to the autistic community and realizing that my “quirks” didn’t make me a weirdo at all and that I definitely wasn’t alone!! Some of my favorite shows to watch are Love is Blind, The Walking Dead, Black Mirror, Stranger Things. A few of my favorite movies are Pitch Perfect, Little Monsters, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Interstellar, Dazed & Confused, honestly anything from the ’90s probably ahah. I wouldn’t say I look for much inspirational content. I get inspired by nature and people in my day-to-day like rather than content. Content can be very curated and come off fake which I’m all about keeping it real.
Pricing:
- Affordable and high-quality heirlooms
- Some pieces are made with hand-dyed merino wool (Malabrigo yarn) these are going to be more expensive as they are more expensive for me to source the material
- I have items that range from approximately $20-$200
- I take custom orders which require 100% deposit before starting
Contact Info:
- Website: Michiganfolkknits.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/MichiganFolk_Knits
Image Credits
Christie Melki
