Yes, yes, you are reading well! I was about to go insane when I decided to learn how to knit…
The story started back in February 2009. Hubby came to Montreal and we got engaged. He stayed for two weeks and went back to Australia (you can have the full story on how we met here). We started the long and laborious process of gathering the paperwork for my permanent migration to Australia. At that time, we applied for a “prospective marriage visa” thinking this will be the quickest way to receive a positive answer from the immigration. How wrong we were… The process of applying for a permanent visa is so stressful; anyone who went through the journey of moving to a different country will understand exactly what I’m talking about. It’s not only the endless forms I had to fill up detailing each steps of my past such as which primary school I went to and where I had travelled in the past years, it’s also the medical examinations, finding witnesses ready to write a declaration describing that our relation was true, our own declaration detailing how we met and why we decided to get married, pictures, official documents and so on.
I had just got engaged and was feeling upset my fiancé was on the other side of the world. I was stressed out by the amount of paperwork I had to put together and my patience was running very low. I remember feeling so nervous and tense. Each day, I was asking myself how on earth I had put myself in that situation…
Getting all the information together was time consuming. I was on the edge of going crazy. I was literally a bomb ready to explode.
This is when I decided to learn how to knit. I thought I needed to channel my negative energy into something positive and knitting was always something I really wanted to learn. I bought this little book and taught myself the art of knitting.
After finally gathering all the paperwork and sending them to the immigration, came the waiting… And I waited and waited for an answer. I was constantly checking the mail or waiting for a phone call from the immigration saying that they granted me the visa. After 3 months from the date I sent my application, I received a letter from the immigration. I got very excited thinking I finally received the approval for my visa. But, no, it was a request to fill up one more form…
And, do I have to mention the struggle of being so far from my fiancé?
So, I knitted and knitted my stress away. I read the book, I learned and I did and undid stitches. There is something therapeutic and peaceful about knitting; repeating the same movement again and again. Counting the stitches and seeing my work building up slowly calmed me down and helped me to relax. I also got two other friends into knitting. We would sit down for hours and compare our techniques. I first started by knitting a scarf. Here it is: there are so many mistakes! I tried to cover the holes with some buttons and the end of the scarf is wider than the start! I always said I will keep it as a reminder of that time…
It look like the scarf in my header (by the way, do you like my new header?) because it was a huge ball of yarn and I decided to do the scarf again with no mistakes this time.
So, this is how I learned how to knit. To finish up my story with the visa, 5 months after sending my paperwork to the immigration, I still had not received any news from them… During these five months my immigration agent changed twice and my passport got lost by the post. So I just knitted more and more. In September, with no news from the immigration, hubby and I decided I will come to Australia on a tourist visa. My official visa finally arrived in December while I was in Australia…
As for knitting, I’m much better now but I still have a long way to go to be a good knitter. There are so many things I love about it: discovering new patterns, looking at all the colours available and feeling the textures of the different yarn. I get so excited in front of a stall of yarn, like a child in a candy store!
After writing this post, I decided to start a series on knitting. You can have a look at Part 1 – Casting on here.
Do you knit or crochet?
How did you learn?
Linking this post with Jess over at Essentially Jess for I Blog on Tuesdays and with Grace over at With Some Grace for FYBF.
{ 44 comments… read them below or add one }
I tried knitting, but it had the opposite affect on me….drove me to insanity
A bit like your struggle to get here 
I would like to find my knitting equivalent as my anxieties tend to take over.
It is sad the hoops that you have to go through to be with the one you love, but as always it is something that must be done because not everyone is doing it for the right reasons.
Becc
Yes, although it was a painful process, I do understand the importance of it because, unfortunately, there are so many frauds that can happen with the immigration.
I don’t think I’m patient enough to knit, but I think your scarf is very pretty, even if you made mistakes. It’s all a part of learning.
Visiting from IBOT.
Thank you for saying this! I just laugh when I look at it!
definitely not a knitter here, but i feel your pain as to dealing with immigration crap. in saying that, we were very lucky. our process was very quick both getting my green card in the US, and also getting hubby’s spousal visa for Australia (but we were already married and had been together for several years which I’m sure helped). I’m glad something positive came out of all that stress, and glad you didn’t have a breakdown! That scarf is gorgeous! x Aroha
The immigration process can be so annoying… I’m glad to hear that it was much easier for you to get all your paperwork done.
I don’t knit or crochet but I can imagine how therapeutic in can be. It would be like me and my swimming or my running. Just keep going with the same repeated motion and think of nothing else. Always good for the mind
x
I can knit, slowly and badly, so I don’t do it all that often. When I as pregnant with Miss 6 I taught myself how to crochet but I have since forgotten it seems. My mother is a great knitter though. I am so pleased that your visa eventually came.
Fairy wishes and butterfly kisses lovely
Knitting or crochet can be very therapeutic. I can’t knit, and I’m only a novice at crochet, but still enjoy it!
My Aussie friend married an American fellow. When they had been married 11 years and had a little baby, they decided to move to the United States. Her visa took about 9 months to come through – and most of that time she had to stay in Australia with the baby while he was in the States! It was a heartbreaking time for them.
Oh, I can imagine how hard that would have been… It is such a relief when the visa finally come through…
I love your new header Rita! It’s simple but gorgeous
Also enjoyed reading this story. It must have been so hard all that waiting and being apart from your fiance 
I can knit and crochet. I used to do alot of it before kids. I haven’t done ANY since! I really must get back into it because like you, I found it very therapeutic and very satisfying to have created something! I’m going to pop over and read about how you and your husband met now 
Thanks Min. I thought I put in my header few of the things I love such as reading, knitting, writing and a good cup of tea or coffee!
I love knitting too Rita, although I tend to cross stitch more than knit. My Nana taught me to knit when I was eight, and she nearly died when she discovered how old I was! She thought I was older. But I’ve never forgotten. I’m not very good at it, and I get stuck a lot and have to put things aside until I can get some help from my mother in law or my girlfriend, who are both excellent knitters. But I usually eventually finish them. It might take me a year or so though
xx
I’m not a fast knitter too and I consider myself as a beginner but, like you, I leave it for a while and always get back to finish it up. I don’t know how to cross stitch but would love to learn.
Oh I love the buttons. I’m a big fan of gorgeous flaws in homemade crafts – that’s where all the love and charm is.
Thanks Danya!
My mum taught me now to knit but I am a very ‘tight’ knitter, so my knitting is very close, but I made up for it by accidentally dropping a few stitches. I want my children to learn how to do it, hopefully my mum will be able to show them (and me). I love that you found solace in knitting! Emily
BTW – I do love your new header
Haha! I was also a very “tight” knitter but not anymore.
Also, knitting is something great to pass on to the kids.
I was taught to knit when I was young but I was never very good at it. I do enjoy cross stitching and I do find that therapeutic but I rarely find the time these days…I think I will need to make some time though!
I would love to learn how to cross stitch. I’m with you on that, it is hard to find time to do it.
Oh Rita, what a wait you had! I’m not a great knitter, but can relate because I find threading beads very therapeutic, especially when I’m making a large piece. My jewellery has gotten me through some stressful times too. And your new header is lovely xx
Thanks Lisa. Yes, I can imagine that threading beads would have the same effect than knitting. I think everything that involve the creative process can be helpful when one go through rough times.
I could knit a scarf if I had to… but then I wouldn’t be able to finish it until someone rescued me by casting off. (No idea!) I’d love to learn how to crochet flower details for plain clothing though. Some I’ve seen are absolutely gorgeous. Glad the visa drama is finally settled! Visiting from #teamIBOT
You can follow my series on knitting. I will do a post on casting off and, eventually, how to knit a flower.
Great story! I crochet when I’m stressed these days, but my knitting is still pretty terrible!
I don’t know how to crochet but would really love to learn… I heard it’s much quicker and easier than knitting.
If I had more time, I would knit as I too find it theraputic. My Oma taught me how to knit when I was young. I remember hearing her knitting ‘click click, click clack’ with the knitting needles. I started a blanket for my son who is now 13 months old, I might have to finish it whenever my 2nd comes along. Lovely post.
Thanks Eva! Yes, yes! I did forget to write in my post about the lovely sound of the needles… I love this sound!
I crochet {not very well though}. I am amazed at how productive I can be when I have a project going though! If crocheting and knitting are the keys to mental health, I think I’d better start a new project I think.
I’m pleased your story has a happily ever after ending! xx
Haha! Well, it helped me to not have a nervous breakdown but I don’t claim it’s the solution for mental health in general!
I don’t know how to crochet. I did knit for a short while as a teenager…my mother provided advice. She dropped knitting for sewing. I ended up sewing my clothing for next 20 yrs. I just liked the faster results. ….well, sometimes.
It’s true that it can take ages to finish a project of knitting (or it’s only me because I’m so slow!) I agree sewing is much quicker. I do have a sewing machine sleeping in the box somewhere! Must give it a try sometime…
I tried knitting once, but never really got the hang of it. Now I sew, or specifically quilt. I love it
Wow! I admire people who know how to quilt! The final results of quilting are so beautiful!
I would love to learn how to knit or crochet, my girl friend is teaching herself and makes quirky things like a giant rug with a giant crochet needle. I also love yarn bombing! When I see a tree or an ugly pole with some knitting or crochet on it I just love it!
Good to see you made it here in the end!! Wow what a wait!
I love yarn bombing too! It always make me smile!
I feel your pain Rita, having just finished the paperwork for our de facto application. We sent it in before Christmas so we are just waiting to hear back now.
My mum and grandma are such amazing knitters but I am not patient enough, I can only knit scarves. I do love asking for knitted socks and mittens for Christmas and birthdays and I usually get them:)
x
Good luck Ingrid with the immigration! I’m sure you will have an answer quickly considering you’ve been with your boyfriend and living and working in Australia for a while now. Wishing you all the best in this process!
I just taught myself to crochet last year. love love love it. Oh and congrats on the visa.
I hear you xx I find it very relaxing, and I like to keep busy
So happy to hear knitting was so therapeutic for you! And congrats on the official visa. I actually did have a nervous breakdown last year- maybe I should have learned to knit. Will know next time
I read your post on your nervous breakdown and I wish you all the best this year. For me, it was very helpful to learn knitting but, I know this is not the key to all nervous breakdowns. Many things have to be taken into account in such situation.
What a lovely post
Bot the part about the visa though, I know just what you mean about that. All the waiting, the worry, the forms, the questions 
But it’s worth it in the end. You’ve inspired me to get some knitting needles and have a go 
Yes! Give it a try and let me know how you go!
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