Millsite Lodge resident Rudy Piccolo may not be able to tie fishing flies anymore but he can knit toques.
Over the last month Piccolo, with the assistance of a SENTRO Knitting Machine, has taken up knitting for the first time. He's already created a handful of toques auctioned off at the Millsite Lodge/ Fischer Place Auxillary annual Christmas Bake Sale and plans to make more in the coming months.
"We already have some orders for some more," Piccolo said, noting he'd like to start donating them to local community groups.
Piccolo has been a resident of Millsite for three years now and has lived in 100 Mile House for 26 years. He remarked he originally moved to 100 Mile from his hometown of Kamloops to work at the Norbord OSB Plant until his retirement in 2020.
"I like the area, it's nice, and Kamloops was getting too hectic for me. I needed a small town and when they announced the OSB plant opening up I signed my name right away," Piccolo said. "I liked the fishing and hunting up here."
Largely wheelchair-bound due to a cardiovascular disease and low blood pressure, Picolo said he's done his best to stay active and engaged in the community. He's one of the main residents who tends to Millsite's community garden and enjoys planning out what will be planted each year since moving there in 2021.
It's partially because of this strength he's shown that when Alaina Lipsett got the SENTRO she decided to ask him to try it out. Lipsett is one of Millsite Lodge and Fischer Place's recreation workers and is currently studying to become a recreation therapist.
"I saw it as an opportunity to provide leisure intervention with our residents. This overcomes the barrier of them maybe not having the dexterity in their fingers or not being able to remember how to knit anymore," Lipsett explained. "This is a way that people can engage in purposeful activity as well. I'm also an avid knitter and crocheter well and it's an important value in my life to create."
Lipsett was surprised by how much Piccolo took to knitting but noted that he's a very goal-oriented man who sets out to achieve things. When she asked him if he was interested in making toques for the auction he said yes and the rest was history.
The money raised from the silent auction goes back into a fund Millsite residents can use to spend on activities and items. Piccolo remarked it felt good to contribute to the fundraiser.
"When she (Alaina) asked me to try it I said 'sure I'll try it, I'll be the muscle'. I kind of like it, actually. I like the finished result." Piccolo said. "You start out with a little piece of string and you get a nice finished result out of it. You see a nice toque made and it's something that you made eh?"
Piccolo said he's never knit before in any capacity. He remarks he likes the knitting machine as rather than learning how to manipulate two needles he just has to crank a handle and make sure the yarn stays threaded. As the bowl turns the yarn is naturally woven together doing the bulk of the work for him.
The activity reminds Piccolo of when he used to tie fishing flies as a hobby, which has proven difficult since a stroke a few years ago limited the dexterity of his fingers. Getting the chance to make something beautiful again fills that hole for him.
"Right now we're just making toques. I wouldn't mind trying some leg warmers and maybe sweaters or something," Piccolo remarked.
Piccolo said that he welcomes any knitters with extra wool or yarn sitting around who would be interested in donating them to come by Millsite and drop them off. The more material he has to work with the more he and other residents will be able to do.
Lipsett said that any charity or community group interested in having Picollo's toques donated to them can reach out to her via kent-alaina@hotmail.com.
"Sometimes in long-term care, I think we're forgotten about and I want the community to remember we are community members and we're doing something for the community too," Lipsett remarked. "I love my job and I really think it's important that people can access their leisure activities the way they used to. I'm really trying to cut down those barriers or find new activities so they can engage in purposeful activity."
