A Crafty Bunch
by Jeannine Gage
Three times a week at the Lake Mary Senior Center, the faint whisper of yarn slipping through fingers is frequently interrupted by conversation and laughter. This is the home of the Crafty Corners Club, a group that has brought local residents together through the craft of crocheting for three decades.
Crafty Corners is the longest-running club at the senior center. Unlike with exercise classes, where participants typically show up, work out, and leave – this group is different. Members stay for hours at a time, fashioning not only blankets, hats, and other handmade items, but forming meaningful friendships, too.
Ted Dyczko stands out as the only man in the group. He has been crocheting for a few years and faithfully attends the club’s meetings every week.
“It’s relaxing,” says Ted. “And you get something wonderful out of it [the finished pieces]. Plus, you get to hang around with a group of nice ladies.”
Hooked on a Feeling
With the exception of one member who lives in Deltona, everyone else resides in the Lake Mary or Longwood areas. For many of them, Crafty Corners is more than a hobby – it’s a lifeline.
Lucy Paskoski, 92, joined about seven years ago after the passing of her husband.
“It gets you out of the house,” she says. “It’s the socialization that is important. I’ve made friends.”
Lucy’s favorite projects include prayer shawls and baptismal blankets, many of which have been donated to her church.
Giving back to the community is central to the club’s mission. Over the years, members have donated thousands of handmade items, including hats for schoolchildren and lap robes for older adults at senior living communities.
One of the club’s ongoing efforts involves crafting outfits for hundreds of teddy bears supplied by The Salvation Army. Last year alone, the group completed 500 dressed bears, each destined to bring comfort to a child in need.
Lee Boyd has witnessed most of that impact firsthand. Now 80, she has been part of the group for 30 years.
“I enjoy crocheting, but mostly it’s the people,” she says. “We always have such a good time.”
Taught to crochet by her grandmother, Lee has carried her skills forward, crafting everything from delicate doilies to practical walker bags for seniors.
Keeping Each Other in Stitches
Newer members find just as much joy in the group. Linda Wainwright, who joined a couple of years ago, had little crocheting experience before walking through the doors of the senior center.
“I just do simple things like blankets,” says Linda. “But it’s not that hard once you start. Being here with everyone – it’s fun.”
For others like Flo Luis, who has been attending for three years, the club is also a place to learn.
“I didn’t know how to crochet before,” says Flo. “I learned it here.”
When Maryann Marchetti moved to Central Florida 20 years ago from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, she found herself without a social circle.
“I hadn’t made friends and had nothing to do,” says Maryann. “So I picked up my crochet needles and joined the ladies. We take care of each other. You come here, and you talk about what’s going on in your life.”
The club leaders make sure the group is accessible to all. Members contribute $25 annually for yarn, and many additional supplies are donated. Participants must also be members of the senior center. Membership is free for Lake Mary residents and $20 a year for non-residents.
Diane Dever, the Lake Mary Senior Center’s administrative coordinator, says what makes the club unique is the way it gives back to those in need.
“It’s not just an activity,” says Diane. “It’s a community. They’re helping others while helping themselves. It’s a win-win.”