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The Crochet Crowd

Home » Michael Sellick

February 16, 2025

Michael Sellick: Behind The Crochet Crowd

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Michael Sellick, or Mikey as he's known to millions, isn't just a crochet instructor; he's the friendly face that's welcomed so many of us into the wonderful world of yarn. His story isn't just about hooks and stitches; it's a testament to the power of sharing a passion and building a community.

For Mikey, it all started with his mom. Imagine being 14 and watching your mother effortlessly create beautiful scarves in just a few hours. That's the image that sparked his lifelong fascination with crochet. He was hooked (pun intended!) by the speed, the simplicity, and the sheer magic of transforming yarn into something tangible.

Who is Michael Sellick?
Who is Michael Sellick?

A Look Back

Before The Crochet Crowd, Mikey was an 18-wheeler long-haul truck driver. A magazine for truck drivers had an article about donating time to a classroom in the United States. Mikey's nickname came to be through answering the call and teaming up with a grade-five special needs class based out of New York, USA, three years ago. The simple job was to write postcards to the students in the places where he would stop and tell the kids stories about the environment, location, and people along the routes.

Mikey Trucker
Mikey Trucker. Job before the creation of The Crochet Crowd.

With the internet becoming more accessible, Michael discovered YouTube and opened a channel in 2007. The channel was designed to communicate with the kids, showing them places, not just posting pictures. Only to realize that several months into it, the school had YouTube as a blocked resource. Others viewed the videos of the trucking adventures with no genuine interest.


Fast forward to 2008. Picture this: Mikey is searching for a lost crochet book, a quest that unexpectedly leads him to YouTube. He discovered a vibrant community of crocheters sharing their knowledge, and a lightbulb went off. He thought, "I can do this! I can share my love of crochet too." And so, The Crochet Crowd was born.

What started as a simple YouTube channel has blossomed into a global phenomenon. Millions of us have learned from Mikey's warm, approachable teaching style. He has a knack for breaking down even the most complex stitches into easy-to-understand steps. Whether you're a complete beginner nervously holding a hook for the first time or an experienced crocheter looking for inspiration, Mikey's got you covered. A significant part of that accessibility stems from his dedication to providing explicit, visual instruction. One of his considerable accomplishments, and a game-changer for his teaching, was mastering the art of creating crochet diagrams in Adobe Illustrator. This skill enabled him to visually represent patterns and techniques with unparalleled clarity, making crochet even more accessible to learners of all skill levels.

Mikey, Happy Hooker Pin
Mikey wearing his Happy Hooker Pin while teaching class.

But The Crochet Crowd is more than just tutorials. It's a community. It's a place where we can connect with fellow crocheters, share our projects, and celebrate our creativity. And at the heart of it all is Mikey, with his genuine enthusiasm and infectious love for the craft.

Beyond the online world, Mikey has also shared his expertise through his book, "The Crochet Crowd: Inspire, Create & Celebrate," a treasure trove of patterns and stories from his crochet journey. He's also a popular speaker and workshop instructor, traveling the world to connect with crocheters face-to-face.  

Behind the scenes, Mikey's journey is shared with his partner, Daniel Zondervan, the co-creator of The Crochet Crowd. Together, they're a dynamic duo, managing the community, creating fresh content, and dreaming up new projects. Their home in Nova Scotia is shared with their furry family, consisting of two Great Pyrenees dogs and two cats.

Michael Sellick & Daniel Zondervan
Michael Sellick & Daniel Zondervan

Mikey's legacy isn't just about the stitches he's taught; it's about the joy he's spread. Through The Crochet Crowd, he's empowered countless people to discover the magic of crochet, one stitch at a time. He's not just teaching a craft; he's building a community, fostering creativity, and sharing his passion with the world. And that's something truly special.

PuppiDawg on the Couch
PuppiDawg on the Couch

Importance of Sponsorship

In the intricate tapestry of The Crochet Crowd's journey, a pivotal thread weaves through the partnership with Spinrite Yarns, known to the public as the branding giant Yarnspirations. The union, born in the unofficial embrace of Fall 2010, emerged from a local outlet store and blossomed into a collaboration that transcended the ordinary.

Yarn Storage Warehouse - Spinrite Yarns
Yarn Storage Warehouse - Spinrite Yarn

In 2015, The Crochet Crowd partnered with Yarnspirations in a sponsorship that went beyond a typical business deal. Instead of using spokespeople, The Crochet Crowd, and specifically Michael Sellick, kept their authentic voice and remained in charge of their content. This meant they could choose which products and ideas to support, even if it differed from Yarnspirations' usual plans. While showcasing Yarnspirations' yarn, The Crochet Crowd also designed their own projects, keeping their content fresh and relevant to their community. The sponsorship helped fund tutorials, content, and community management, allowing the team to focus on sharing their passion for crochet, even when things got tricky online. This unique partnership allowed The Crochet Crowd to stay true to its community while growing and creating.


The Crochet Crowd Book

In the vibrant hues of Fall 2021, The Crochet Crowd unveiled a milestone in their creative odyssey – their very first book. This tangible treasure found its way onto the shelves of stores and online platforms like Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and even Walmart USA.

The Crochet Crowd Book Cover
The Crochet Crowd Book Cover

Despite publishers wanting The Crochet Crowd to write a book for years, Michael always declined due to workload. It wasn't until John from McIntyre Purcell and inspiration from Jonah Larsen's book (which used a ghostwriter) that he reconsidered. Michael and Daniel were interviewed, and Rick Conrad wrote the book, capturing The Crochet Crowd's unique style.

Instead of hiring designers, Michael invited friends and beginners to create patterns, with a dedicated testing team ensuring quality. Learning to develop crochet diagrams in Adobe Illustrator became a crucial new skill. The book-writing process taught them valuable lessons about pattern writing, design, and visual communication. They hoped the book would solidify their place as bloggers and authors in the crochet world. Michael realized that patience was key to completing this challenging but rewarding project. The book became more than just patterns; it was a story of their passion and creativity, a legacy for future crocheters.

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Summary
Photo ofMichael Sellick
Name
Michael Sellick
Nickname
(Mikey)
Website
https://thecrochetcrowd.com
Job Title
Owner
Company
The Crochet Crowd

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Filed Under: Crochet Patterns by Michael Sellick, Exclusive Crochet Crowd Knit and Crochet Patterns, Michael Sellick

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ashe Mohammed says

    September 05, 2020 at 11:56 am

    Hi Michael you are awesome l love crohet and knitting as well I really want to go in to it deeply but I need to know how to order for wool and get a beautiful design's thank you.

    Reply
    • Mikey says

      September 05, 2020 at 5:29 pm

      You can get designs on this website if you just surf on through. There are 1000's of free patterns here. As far as ordering yarn, I'm unsure where you live but I would just order online but check to see if they ship to wherever you are before you get too heavily invested in time. Some don't ship across into Canada, where I live, for example.

      Reply
  2. Irene says

    August 29, 2020 at 7:11 am

    Yes I'm hooked....I've watched you crochet sweaters...and other things....but sometimes I just enjoy watching you crochet and like it when you get the gigglas....God bless...fromEl Paso Tx 79938

    Reply
  3. Crystal Chinn says

    August 27, 2020 at 10:08 am

    Wow!
    I saw you twice on U tube. You are one of a very few that are easy to understand and follow. This is my first time at this site. Nice

    Reply
    • Mikey says

      August 28, 2020 at 7:38 am

      Thank you for visiting our site Crystal. 😀 Hope you can find some new projects to try. 🙂 Michael

      Reply
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