Our Story
Welcome to Travel Crochet, this journey is between two people, Tracy & Chris, we are husband and wife. Without Chris's support this channel and website would not exist.
Tracy suffered a workplace injury in 2020 and by 2021 was diagnosed with CPTSD, Major Depression, Major Panic Disorder, Major Anxiety and Agoraphobia. Tracy had several long term stays in psychiatric hospitals to stabilise her mental health. We were living in Melbourne, Australia at the time and this was also when COVID-19 had hit the world. We were living in the state that had the longest lockdowns in the world. This had not helped Tracy's mental health at all.
During lockdown, we did what most people did, turned to YouTube to pass time. We started watching couples and families who had sold up everything and were travelling around Australia living in a caravan. Tracy suggested to Chris one day if we should do this, sell up everything we own, purchase an appropriate car for towing a caravan and purchase a caravan. Chris didn't even need a second and agreed! We sold all of our belongings, purchased a car and caravan and on the 15th of March 2022 we hit the road full time.
Tracy has always been into crafting, making greeting cards, water colour painting, scrap booking and colouring! After we had been on the road for just over 12 months, Tracy was missing having a hobby to keep her mind busy. It was at this time Tracy's psychologist had suggested Tracy try crocheting, as it is medically proven to assist with anxiety and mental health.
It just happen to be at this time, Chris's sister, Kim and brother in law (Graeme) had joined us at a caravan park in South Australia to meet up. Tracy mentioned to Kim about wanting to learn how to crochet and Kim said she knew how to make a granny square! So off to the shops we found some acrylic yarn and a very basic crochet hook and we had some hours of frustration, but eventually Tracy got it!
Her first granny square! After Kim and Graeme left, Tracy continued making granny squares until she sewed them together to create a blanket. It's not pretty, but it started something!
Tracy then tried beanies and a scarf, but it just wasn't feeling right. Then decided to hit YouTube and search crochet and came across Robin, from Knotted Hook Crochet channel and saw she was making stuffed toys out of beautiful soft yarn. Now that's something that looked fantastic.
We still only had acrylic at the time, Tracy tried a Teddy Bear, and again it wasn't great, but she was hooked!!
Crocheting has significantly helped Tracy's mental health, the concentration it requires, the repetitive movements, the feel of the beautiful soft yarns, the focus, but mostly the ability to function better as a person and starting to be able to communicate with people again.
Chris is Tracy's full time carer, as Tracy's mental health, even today, requires 24/7 monitoring. If it wasn't for Chris's undying love and support, we wouldn't be here today.
Vision
Our vision is to show other people who may also be struggling with mental health, that with support, love and the right hobby, you can get to a better place.
Travel Crochet is not a business, it is a hobby that also provides ongoing therapy. Tracy's medical team have told her she will never work a "normal" job again, however crochet has brought a sense of "normal" to her life and wants to encourage others to join this fabulous and supportive community.
So if you see one of Tracy's videos and she mentions the price she sells her items for, it isn't for profit. Any money goes straight back into buying more crochet items eg yarn, safety eyes etc so Tracy's therapy can continue. It isn't profit, it is purpose.
We would like to thank everyone for all of your support you have provided to us and we will continue to share our journey.
