We were lucky to catch up with Christie Melki recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Christie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

I learned all my fiber know-how from YouTube! I tell everyone who is interested in learning how to knit or crochet for themselves to start on YouTube; it’s an incredible visual resource. I would also recommend checking out your local library or craft store for free patterns that are available in books and magazines! Google can also provide an endless resource for discovering free patterns through Designer’s Blogs, websites, etc. I have found there are incredible free patterns all over Instagram as well. Unless you are totally in love with a pattern, there is no need to start out buying patterns right away; learn the basics first and understanding how to read a pattern will become more natural.

Knowing what I know now, I don’t think there was a need to speed up my learning process. I learned at a comfortable pace that encouraged and challenged me to keep going. I started out with tablecloths using the same stitch over and over again, and now I can knit complete sweaters! It’s all about creating what you are interested in, and you will not only build your skills but also determine what you find most rewarding to create.

The most essential skills are the most basic ones! Learn the basics! I use basic techniques to create with crochet and knitting every single day. If you can start off perfecting the basic techniques, than you will set yourself up for success in creating a beautiful, well-done finished piece that you can be proud of! Don’t start off with something overwhelming that may cause you stress (unless you work well under pressure!) as you don’t want to accidentally discourage yourself from continuing to create. Remember everything takes time, but just start somewhere! Find what drives you to keep creating, and do more of that! It’s really that simple.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Hi, my name is Christie! I am a native of Michigan. I always knew that I wasn’t going to fit into the typical “mold” and that I would different in more ways than one.

Starting off, I have ADHD and Autism, so fitting into the crowd on a regular basis wasn’t me, even though I was befriended by many walks of life.. I never truly “fit in.” I enjoyed doing band and played the clarinet all the way through high school, where I was first chair in symphonic band and also took part in Marching Band. I loved music and still do!

A big memory of mine is from when I was little, and it was my 5th birthday. My (late) Mother had decorated the entire kitchen table full of artistic tools like watercolors and markers, crayons, construction paper… you name it! I think that really struck a fire inside of me to create, and I always loved to color, draw, etc. But it wasn’t until years later that I discovered working with yarn. This moment is one I revisit often when being met with the question: “where did your creative interest begin?” I just wish my Mom could see my small business: Michigan Folk Knits, now!

Tapestry weaving became a popular trend I saw on Instagram and YouTube, and I decided I wanted to give it a try for myself. I had my boyfriend build me a wooden tapestry loom made simply out of some wood and nails. It actually worked great and I made a few pieces, but found myself wanting to create something a bit different. I went to pick up some yarn and decided that I was going to learn to crochet, so grabbed a hook as well. I searched on YouTube “how to start crocheting” and the rest is history. Of course, shortly after I began getting curious about knitting and knew I could rely on my hand-dandy friend YouTube again. My first knitting project was a garter stitch scarf, and it turned out better than I thought it would!

My small business is called Michigan Folk Knits, and was officially established in 2021! I specialize in designing and creating eye-catching sensory friendly knit and crochet heirlooms, that are handcrafted for adventure! I use high quality, luxurious hand-dyed Merino Wool and Chenille yarns, which make for an incredibly soft and beautiful finished piece. I am most proud of my quality and color choice, for which I am frequently complimented!

I do lots of local markets; last year I actually did 26 of them! I am located in Saint Clair Shores, Michigan so I tend to stay around there; but if the foot traffic at a market is good… I am happy to make a little bit of a drive. One of my best markets last year was the Blake’s Sunflower Festival… I anticipate doing that again, as well as the Lavender Festival this year! You can also find me at the After 6 on Kercheval Markets in Grosse Pointe, Farmers Markets & Events at Blossom Heath, Holiday Magic in Royal Oak, Farmers Markets & Events in Birmingham… and many more.

Follow me on Instagram: MichiganFolkKnits to easily stay up-to-date with me and what markets I will be participating in this year. I will be making a calendar to share on Instagram, once the market season begins. You can also check out my website: MichiganFolkKnits.com to see what finished products I currently have available and ready to ship! I am open to discuss a custom order as well based on something you see that I created. My email is: [email protected].

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

A way that I have showed resilience in my brand/small business is by rebranding! Now, I know that may sound kind of funny and counterintuitive… but just hear me out.

When I first started out I didn’t want to get hung up on “the perfect business name,” I just knew that I wanted to start sharing my creations with the world. Remember, just start SOMEWHERE! So I did just that… I started creating and sharing. The feedback was awesome, people loved my products! But there was still a disconnect, I felt, between my brand and the products themselves.

So, I did what anyone with a hope to get seen by new eyes would do, and rebranded. I feel strongly that this was important to set myself up for successful brand recognition early on, while also creating a connection to my finished goods. Michigan Folk Knits had its most successful year last year in 2023, and I am totally looking forward to another exciting, successful, and opportunity filled year in 2024!

How did you build your audience on social media?

Slowly, but surely! Going back to “we all start somewhere,” you can easily and quickly get caught up in the comparing game. Success USUALLY does not come over night for most. I say the best thing you can do for yourself in your small business is to stay consistent with creating and posting, and the progress and growth will be steady over time. You will have an opportunity to really connect with your community this way as well, by building relationships one on one… ensuring you are a small business that your followers will WANT to support at the end of the day.

Consistency is different for everyone, so only post as often as you can handle. I personally only post a few times a week, and it actually works better for me than stressing to post everyday. Quality over Quantity is also a big thing for me right now. I used to post everything, all the time. Now I take the time to create a memorable post and content that my community can engage with or share. Remember social media is meant to be social, so a big part of that is building a community and people you consistently engage with. Reach out to others if you’re interested in collaborating on an idea with them. And try to stay on top of trends that you can, in turn, use in your own way to showcase your small business! People really love Reels on Instagram and some of my best performing posts have ME in them.. so don’t be shy to share yourself with the world… they want to make a connection with YOU! Lastly, just have fun and be authentic!

Contact Info:

• Website: MichiganFolkKnits.com
• Instagram: Instagram.com/MichiganFolkKnits
• Other: Knitting Patterns on Etsy and Ravelry: Michigan Folk Knits

Image Credits
Christie Melki | Michigan Folk Knits