Michael Sellick Biography
Michael Sellick, (he/him) is known as Mikey of The Crochet Crowd to hundreds of thousands of followers through Facebook and YouTube.
Michael is Canadian and does all of his work from his home studio in Walkerton, Ontario Canada with the co-creator Daniel Zondervan, known as Diva Dan. Life partners in real life, together and with the help of two additional team members, they make up the the administration of The Crochet Crowd.
Free Crochet Workshop for Beginners + Tutorial
Mikey’s Background
Michael learned to crochet in 1989 when he was 14. He learned how to chain and double crochet from his mother. He was intrigued by the speed of her crocheting and simplistic designs. She was able to achieve a full scarf in a matter of hours which, in turn, were donated to those in need in the community.
Michael asked his mother to show him how to crochet one afternoon. One stitch led to another and he was hooked on the hobby.
His father never spoke on the subject about him crocheting in his teenage years. It wasn’t ignored but it wasn’t a subject about being embarrassed that his son was crocheting.
While in the craft store, the cashier had a tone of boys shouldn’t be crocheting. Michael wouldn’t share with others that he crocheted at home to avoid embarrassment. The crochet was giving him a sense of purpose. He wouldn’t clue in that it’s therapy on its own until later on in his adult years.
Learning More Stitches
His mother only knew how to chain and double crochet. Michael quickly went back to the craft store to buy a pattern book of stitches. From this book, Michael would play with different stitches and teach himself more stitches to work on. The Catherine Wheel Stitch would be his first project outside of the straight double crochet that he would do next. He was hooked.
Michael, not strong in reading skills in following instructions, gravitated toward the crochet diagrams as he enjoyed reading road maps. He wouldn’t do a pattern unless it had a diagram to show him the stitch work.
Until Michael’s Mid 30’s
Michael would continue to crochet at home, on and off, depending on the season and where he was emotionally in his mind. He clued in 2008 that he only crocheted when he was feeling at the end of his rope. He came to a thought, if he crocheted more consistently and knowing that crochet is a healing mechanism, maybe he should crochet more often instead of when life is hitting the skids.
Pre-Crochet Crowd 2007 – 2008
Michael was volunteering a Pen Pal to a school in New York with a special needs class in 2005 – 2007. He volunteered for the same teacher at a Grade 5 Level where the kids would each write Michael a letter and Michael would write each student a letter back. The letters were monthly and was very rewarding. In the era of Tiara having her Top Model Series, Michael came up with concept that each of the kids were just as important as Tiara. The kids and Michael would have at the top of their letters their first name and ending in ‘mail’. If you notice the YouTube Channel is http://youtube.com/mikeyssmail The name of Mikeyss Mail is from volunteering with this class. Michael simplifying his online name from Michael to Mikey came to be with this class.
The Crochet Crowd concept was accidentally born in March 2008. He had lost his crochet book that he had since he was a child. He went online and found a website called YouTube. At the time, he didn’t know what it was. He found people teaching online. Feeling bored and useless to society, he decided to try teaching a few courses online just to say to the world that he has skills he can share.
He was getting up to 10 views per day and was super excited that he was teaching a few people each day. He realized if he films more and puts more thought to it, he can teach more people. Michael is a statistics fanatic in measuring analytics and goal setting. In receiving 10 views per day, he set a goal for himself to see what will it take to get 1 Million Views on YouTube.
His life fell apart again in 2008 with the end of a relationship. Daniel would come along in January 2009. Daniel, being a performing musician, understood what living life is like in the public eye. He would come to embrace the vision and continually encourage right from Day 1.
The Prediction
Daniel had gone 8 years without a relationship as he was taking care of his mother. Daniel had a friend that was a psychic and predicted 6 months prior to us meeting. The psychic predicted that a new relationship would come along and that his soul partner is a public figure but the partner doesn’t know he is a public figure yet. The psychic said the person is involved in an unusual field of work that is entertainment but not in the sense of music performing.
Upon meeting Daniel, Daniel clued in that the YouTube involvement that was in the egg stages. Instead of dismissing this concept in free teaching, he encouraged it as he was curious to see what would happen.
Daniel’s name of Diva Dan is derived from the MSN Status Update left on his MSN Chat Box on the first date Michael and he shared. He stated he was being a ‘Domestic Diva’ in cleaning his house waiting for Michael’s arrival. Michael having a gift of word play instantly nick named him as Diva Dan which has become Daniel’s online persona name.
Michael received his first million hits in just under the one year mark of being on YouTube. Michael re-aligned his goals for five million which came quickly.
The Crochet Crowd 2010
In two years, Michael had earned 8 million views on YouTube. The mere hobby of teaching people began to absorb every waking moment in being a leader. Facebook had come along offering communities/pages. The company was officially named in September 2010 to The Crochet Crowd. The name was brainstormed and Daniel came up with the name of The Crochet Crowd.
In the two years prior, it was realized that we had developed a very social and interactive community online. Our name is a reflection of the community spirit that we share online.
Mikey and Diva Dan appeared for the first time in public at the Creativ Festival in Oct 2010.
In November 2010, they had visited the Spinrite Factory Outlet where the store manager, Michelle MacDonald knew through gossip who they were. Michelle, Michael and Daniel instantly bonded. They realized they have a commonality which is the sense of goal making and undeniable drive to succeed. Michelle was instrumental in helping Michael and Daniel understand the behind the scenes workings of the craft and yarn world.
Michael also started working on making tutorials for AllFreeCrochet.com. He got involved in blogging where the mentors at Prime Publishing, owners of AllFreeCrochet.com taught Michael the value and concept of blogging. The learning curve was steep on how to blog but the hard lessons were invaluable and is one of Michael’s engagement outreaches to his fans.
Growth of The Crochet Crowd
The Crochet Crowd was a steady pace of growth. While some believe The Crochet Crowd has sprung up over night, it has been a series of progressive steps which involve working for free or little income for 4 years while in development. Both Michael and Daniel had full time jobs during the growth period with income from their other jobs to subsidize the operational costs of running The Crochet Crowd.
Michael gets a personal thrill out of recognizing everyday crocheters. He is an everyday yarn crocheter and loves to share in the celebrations of others around him. It is the mission of The Crochet Crowd to give recognition and meaningful interaction with as many people as possible.
The Crochet Crowd has exponentially grown to populations that are hard to believe. Though Michael cannot respond personally to every comment, email and communications that the fans expect from him. He tries his best as his major role is to keep the inspiration flowing with free tutorials and ideas through free patterns.
As The Crochet Crowd grows, so does Michael as he learns just as much from the participants in the community. The Crochet Crowd today is driven by raw passion where his sense of working hours are combined with the desire to help others with the strong excitement of playing with yarn. He is living his creative passion.
Major Goals Accomplished
- YouTube Channel of the Month for July 2012
- Michael maintains one of the top 3 channels on YouTube in Canada.
- Leader in online teaching and instructional videos in both presenting, editing and social reaching.
- Facebook Community is the most engaged and quickest growing crochet community.
- Development of the Annual Retreat known as Crochet Cruises
- Development and maintaining a weekly free magazine called Mikey.
- Maintains the most engaging and interactive showcases at the semi annual Creativ Festival.
- Lead Online Instructor for Red Heart Yarns, 2013 – 2014.
- Yarnspirations Socialite, 2015 to present.
Michael maintains his own personality with sponsorship without being a spokesperson. His self personality allows him to be objective and speak to his own views without representing a third party. This flexibility has allowed him to have fun and create interactive campaigns where his fans are given choices and praise without being formal.
Growth Milestones – Subscribers
- January 2011 – 14,000 YouTube, 800 Facebook
- January 2012 – 31,000 YouTube, 5,000 Facebook
- January 2013 – 69,000 YouTube, 17,000 Facebook
- January 2014 – 174,000 YouTube, 193,000 Facebook
- January 2015 – 264,000 YouTube, 482,000 Facebook
- January 2016 Prediction – 350,000 YouTube, 750,000 Facebook
Working Schedule
Michael works everyday. There is no such thing as weekends or holidays. Those who are self employed would understand this concept more than anyone. Unit of measure is based on output of interaction, tutorials and articles.
The Crochet Crowd would have never been successful if Michael had stuck with a 9 – 5 pm mentality. His goals for success drive him to work obscene hours.
Michael works a minimum of 12 – 16 hours in a day. He has no concept of weekends or holidays. He crochets in the evenings unless time isn’t allowing for it.
Michael’s Role
- Encourage creativity in others through established communities.
- Work directly with sponsors for campaign building, concept launch and follow through.
- Plan, produce, edit and make crochet tutorials.
- Produce content for the Mikey Magazine and guest blogs he participates with.
- Write articles targeting crocheters sharing about fun finds of free patterns.
- Work with guest bloggers and assistants of The Crochet Crowd for a cohesive work flow.
- Give crocheters choices and alternative suggestions when it comes to creativity.
- Interact and engage the community.
- Michael is an expert at Social Media, he consults for Social Media from time to time.
What is Michael?
- Content Producer
- Online Community Leader
- Crocheter & Simplistic Crochet Designer
- Yarn Artistry Crocheter aka Free Form over Established Shapes
- Editor
- Video Host & Educational Teacher
- Public Speaker
- Social Media Director / Consultant
- Product Demonstrator
Michael’s Boundaries
Michael maintains his own voice and opinions on products, services, ideas and more. He has developed the concept of being transparent with his loyal followers and will not compromise his opinions or statements for a paycheck. He is not a spokesperson of any company but merely a socialite of ideas and community sharing that allows him to maintain his authenticity.
If Michael makes an error or something is going wrong with his website programming. Michael is the first to admit when he is at fault and keep communications open between him and his members.
Michael’s Personal Life
You don’t hear Michael talking about visiting friends or family very often. Off camera, Michael is really quiet and keeps to himself. His online personality and when in public as Mikey, The Crocheter, he is the life of the party. He loves yarn and ideas and it shows.
Michael doesn’t watch TV or keep up with current events happening in the world. In social settings, he has no idea what is happening around him to be able to comment or add an opinion to current events. He will stay quiet and listen but rarely offer an opinion on a subject where he has little or no information about to form an opinion.
Outside of the public persona, in person, he is introverted and reserved. He doesn’t surround himself with very many people. Most of his relationships are strictly cyber with no interaction in person. He is not one to call people on the phone to chat, nor have anyone over or visit anyone.
Both Michael & Daniel don’t spend much time with other people. They do everything together, including visiting the convenience store. Daniel is a performer and also secludes himself when not in the public eye.
Mikey, learning to do Tunisian crochet and having a tough time deciding on the material type of crochet hook to get. I bought two bamboo non interchangeable 6.5 and 9mm hooks but found that the yarn just didn’t move smoothly which was frustrating to me. So I decided that metal or aluminium ones were the way to go but they only go to an 8mm but I noticed when watching your Tunisian half double crochet stitch, you were using a 10mm metal hook, where on earth did you get it. The only 9mm or 10mm hooks that are metal that I can find are 14” are those are too long. I would LOVE a 10” hook. Do you have any idea where I could get one. I have contemplated a 10” acrylic but fear that it would cause me the same frustration. Any helpful direction would be appreciated. There are a lot of interchangeable wooden hooks out there but I can’t afford to buy they all just to try. Thanks
Unfortunately I got them from a supplier in England back around 2010. I really recommend the Jimmy Beans Wool Interchangeable Tunisian Hooks. They are an investment (meaning not cheap) and if you are serious about this hobby, I would consider it. Just take a look at their website and see what you think. They are worth it, in my opinion.
Saw a poop emoji pin cushion in one of your videos. Are there instructions available? Thanks for these videos which I only recently discovered when I got my first smart phone. This old lady lifetime crocheter is very impressed. Your teaching style is very special.
Unfortunately not. It was given to me by a friend and I love it.
I wasn’t sure how to post a question, could you please tell the name of the blue stand you put the loom in to hold it and turn it. Tia
I just hammered some wood together and put in a slot to hold the loom. It has no name. It’s my own homemade contraption.
I ran across a pattern that I liked and went to YouTube and there was Mikey and Diva David! Love love love watching you crochet. You give such great views of what you are doing and love to see your projects. Thank you thank you thank you!!!!!
Kathy in Burlington Iowa
I ran across a pattern that I liked and went to YouTube and there was Mikey and Diva David! Love love love watching you crochet. You give such great views of what you are doing and love to see your projects. Thank you thank you thank you!!!!!
Kathy in Burlington Iowa
I have been a follower of your You Tube channel since 2011. I have learned so much from you and recommend you and Crochet Crowd constantly to others who want to learn crochet. I have crocheted for 50+ years, but since I am left-handed there were techniques and stitches I could not learn from diagrams or instructions for the right handed world. But you, dear Mikey, have had left-handed videos all along and I have learned all those things from watching you. So I thank you for your talent and creativity and for your patient and unassuming style of teaching. And I love the Crochet Crowd and all your team.
I can always count of Jeanne to have popcorns in her patterns and on Wendy to help us get the right video link. I am joking, I love Jeanne’s patterns and I always read Wendy’s posts because she is so helpful and informative. Nuff said!
I would love to join this group.
Would love to join your group.
You can find our group on Facebook. Please read through the rules and you will need to answer our three questions in order to be considered for membership. Thank you
The Crochet Crowd Stitch Social
Have you heard of the “half ring stitch”? I was reading the Google news this morning (May 08) and ran across an article about it. I wrote the name of the stitch down, but not the website, thinking I could find it on the Internet or Pinterest. No luck at all. My search comes up with the magic ring, half circle instructions, half double crochet….You get the picture? If you come across it would you please let me know where to find the pattern. It’s an interesting stitch and I’d like to try it. Thank you very much
I’ll keep my eyes open Bonnie. I have never heard of that. 🙂 Always something to learn.
I thoroughly enjoyed this blog. I learned a lot of new information about the two of you.
Mikey, I’m in the middle of your pattern called the “wrap-ghan” and I’ve come to a spot that I do not understand. I’ve done it two different ways and nothing comes close to what your picture looks like. Is there a way you could explain to me step 3 Collar. I’m down to that point and can not for the life of me understand it. My email address is [email protected]. If you could please help me I would appreciate it. Thanks Joann Hoefly
Hi Mikey. Really interested in finding out where to get the loom holder that is in your video. Can you tell me where to find it. Thanks
How can I contact Mikey to ask a question about one of his patterns?
Miley, I am so sorry that you had to be embarrassed about crocheting in your past. I am so glad that you decided to teach others, because your explanations are very precise and clear. I can usually inderstand written directions, but I find that watching you really helps to clarify the instructions. Thanks so much for the great tutorials on such a wide variety projects.
Just want to add my thanks to Mikey and Diva Dan for “thecrochetcrowd” and all the sharing of ideas and patterns. I have recently been drawn back to crocheting and hope to practice skills much more in my upcoming retirement. Bravo to the fun and enthusiasm that you share with everyone.
Michael,
I’m a 69-year-old gay man who has been crocheting for 30+ years. I started when I was in the closet, and I experienced some of the same looks and reactions described in your bio. Now, though, I’m out of my crochet closet as well as my gay one. Young women ask for my help on yarn amounts at the store. Cashiers (male and female) ask me what I’m making when I go to pay for my yarn (even at Walmart). Life is good!
I have learned a lot from your videos. I never could do the crocodile stitch exactly right until I learned it from you. For that alone I’m in your debt. Thank you for your honesty, clarity, and joie de vivre.
My favorite crochet projects are those that use steel hooks and thread rather than yarn. Do you have any cool doily/runner/table cloth/bed spread patterns?
All the best to you & Diva Dan.
Enjoyed the article, when I read “Michael’s Personal LIfe”, I swear I was reading my hubby’s bio, who is extremely introverted, does not socialize with people, has anyone to our home, nor does he visit anyone! Although he is very opinionated about subjects he reads about since he (my hubby) is a Researcher…. anyway, great article, thanks for sharing a bit of your personal world… THANK YOU for everything you do, who you are and please, take some time for yourself, we all can use some “me” time every now and then….
A great bio of a well-rounded human being. Thank you for sharing, Michael.
I love the articles. I am go glad I found Crochet Crowd. I have learned so much. I now can stitch up a hexagon sweater and have make 7 in all. Thank you for all the videos. I have made a sample of all the stitches I have learned into a blanket. Now every time I look at my blanket I have a little part of you next to me and I don’t feel so alone. Keep on truckin and crochin causin I am a followin you.
I love this article, I also stumbled upon Mikey and The Crochet Crowd when I was looking on how to do a specific stitch. Now I am hooked not only to Crochet but also to The Crochet Crowd. Being also an introvert and not very social this medium gives me the output needed and the encouragement to share my creations. Keep going Mikey and Diva Dan.
Thank you for inspiring me to pick up my hook again. It had been hard to even think about crocheting after Mom, my crochet mentor passed away. Thank you for relighting that spark within me.
I love his story! I’m so happy that he was able to find himself through crocheting and teaching others. Thank you for sharing your talent with us. I also love crocheting and teaching others to crochet.
I really enjoyed this article. I’m not sure how I actually found The Crochet Crowd, I guess I sort of stumbled on it one day. When i first watched a tutorial, for two seconds I thought it was strange that a man was crocheting. It was just that I had never encountered a man who crocheted! Literally after the two seconds, I was in love with Mikey! Not to worry, I’m married for 43 years. Mikey’s love for his craft was evident and he re-awakened my love for crochet which had dwindled to only crocheting baby blankets when the need arose. I am now crocheting all the time. I don’t dare go anywhere without my yarn. I was fortunate to meet Mikey & Diva Dan at the Spinrite Factory Outlet sale in North Carolina last Spring. They were just so nice. I look forward to more tutorials and videos. I’m now starting my third Mystery Crochet Afghan which I will give to my favorite NC neighbor. Thanks for all you do. Keep up the good work. You are really making a difference!
Bang on ! Interesting to see a chronological order as to how Michael has grown into the Crochet Crowd and the help and contribution of Daniel. Enjoyed reading this very much. Wishing you continued success and continued growth in all aspects of your life. Thank you for sharing so much.
I just love Mikey and Diva Dan. Your pure joy for things crochet is contagious! I have learned so much and I have accomplished making outfits that really do fit! I love making the afghans and stuffed toys! I am currently teaching my granddaughter to crochet. We watch Mikey as he explains the different stitches and patterns. Thank you for the job you do!
Mikey your so bang on I often have the same feelings but not able to express them. Keep doing what you’re doing it’s awesome.
Liked the article, read it all the way through. Most things I skip over. I have sent many crocheters to your site. Started crocheting at 9 maybe still learning at almost 70. lol gota iove the internet’. although Mikey & Dan might hear me scream just before i turn on utube. nice to have hooking in my life.
awesome article….loved reading how you got started!
Very nice BIO 🙂 Keep up the Great work 🙂
Awesome awesome awesome!!! loved reading more about Mikey!!!
very interestng to read, thank you for writing all this for us to “see” the real you, both men are wonderful people
Absolutely loved the article. It was very informative. Mikey, you were give a special gift. That is the gift to teach and you enjoy what you do. I love watching your videos where I learn so much. I get a kick when you do the live videos. You and Daniel compliment each other.
IT WAS VERY INTERESTING TO READ THE MECHANICS OF “MIKEY”…I FOLLOW YOU ON CROCHET CROWD…ALSO ENJOY SOME OF YOUR TUTORIALS….CONTINUED SUCCESS TO YOU AND YOURS…..YOU SO INSPIRE US TO BE CREATIVE, AND SOMETIMES TO STEP OUTSIDE OF THE BOX….CHEERS….
I enjoyed reading that mini bio! It’s always good to realize the backstory….so we can appreciate what is put in front of us. Thankyou for working so hard to enlighten us…your devoted fans. That’s includes thanks to Mikey and Daniel and the other 2 admins!♡♡♡♡ I wish I had the “balls” to have stepped up to plate like you guys did!
I enjoyed reading the history of how the crochet crowd was formed. Thank you for sharing with us.
Mikey….I taught myself to crochet a long time ago and did pretty well. Some stitches would cause me to bang my head on the wall, but with a positive outlook I would come up with something…. After running into you, and I did say excuse me…. on facebook… I watched a couple of your teaching lessons on You Tube. That was it….I was Hooked on Mikey. I made everything you had been teaching and now I can’t wait to see what comes next… You just have a Mystery Crochet going til the end of October and I have made 4 of them….4 Kangaroo’s with Joey’s, A Hat, 2 Turkey Hats for kids, a scarf, and a sample blanket which my dog has adopted….All and All .. It’s because of YOU… You make me laugh, You show me that professionals make mistakes too… and I will continue to keep coming back for more and more…. Mikey & Diva Dan Rule with Crocheting.. Thank You for being You…
I think your doing just fine. The only problem I have is there is no close caption on Facebook for me to hear you. So I do mostly read your lips.
I as I am sure many others can totally relate on not being around others much and filing or while lived with crochet. I personally love to teach so much so that I taught my sister via Skype to crochet her first ever scarf. I must say thank you so much for your time to us. I have learned much from you and also look forward to your posts.
I absolutely enjoyed this article. I love Crochet Crowd and Love both Mikey and Diva Dan. Thank you for sharing a little more of you. You do have so many fans, that love and appreciate everything the two of you do for us in the name of art. Thank you both.