Twenty-year-old Carina Munoz, a former Cerritos College student is a devoted talented crocheter.

Her unique animal pieces set her apart from the normal crochet such as scarves or sweaters.

Crochet can be like any other art form. It may be a hobby for some, but for Munoz, it is a talent that has been passed down from previous generations of her family.

Starting with simple projects such as wallets and coin pouches, Munoz expanded to making small animals that have characteristics of more simple and soft versions of different animals.

Munoz also taught herself to create the different projects just by watching videos on the internet.

Slowly she started to expand her knowledge by learning how to read patterns and making her own “original creations” as she mentioned.

Beginning around middle school and inspired by all her mother’s crochet pieces, her interest progressed as she would help her mother.

Learning to crochet was not an easy task due to the fact that she is left handed and her mother is right handed.

Munoz commented, “I could see what she was doing but it was really hard for me to copy her because it’s like a mirror image. I learned how to deal with that over time.”

After crocheting for quite a while, over time her pieces such as blankets and scarves became repetitive. It caused her to feel as if she was losing that connection she initially had with crochet.

She began to get back into crocheting once again looking for ideas online to change up her routine.

Reflecting on her work, Munoz said, “It takes a lot of patience and it is time consuming depending on what it is. It can even be frustrating at times.”

She is inspired by other people’s creations.

It is something that gives her drive to challenge herself into doing even better.

Computer design major Sarah Wade who has assisted Munoz with ideas and designs on crochet pieces for the past five years.

Wade commented, “Most are ideas we (Munoz and I) have come up with over the years and the animals were all ideas I thought would work for her.”

An obstacle Wade mentioned was getting her friend’s name out and promoting her work.

She thinks Munoz can successfully sell her crochet pieces with the right steps.

The dedication that is invested by Munoz can sometimes take up four to five hours a day to crochet an animal.

Munoz’s goal is to eventually step out of the animal pieces she makes and to begin to make little people.