For junior Lucia Martinez-Castro, crocheting started simply as a fun hobby for her during quarantine. However, since then, crocheting has become one of the many ways in which she is able to express herself artistically.
You have probably seen many of Lucia’s paintings hanging up in the KO art gallery over the years; as a talented painter, Lucia is used to expressing her emotions through art. “Music is really important to me,” she said, “so usually I try to paint what I feel when I listen to music.” However, Lucia looks at crocheting through a completely different lens. “Crocheting is more of a hobby for me, and it shows who I am as a person rather than just how I am feeling,” Lucia said.
Lucia has experimented with crocheting by making lots of different things, like tote bags and stuffed animals. Her favorite things to crochet are different articles of clothing. “I like to crochet things that I know I will wear, and that reflect me as a person,” she said. “I really like the feeling of being able to make something that I can wear.”
One of her recent projects, a pair of pants, was one of the most difficult things she has ever crocheted. “Those were the first pair of pants that I ever made, and the patterns were a little bit different from what I usually do,” she said.
Not only does making her own clothes aid in her self-expression, but it is also an environmentally-friendly alternative to fast fashion, which has been one of the most detrimental human impacts to the planet.
Since she began crocheting, Lucia has greatly enjoyed making things for her friends and family. “I really enjoy being able to give my friends something I’ve made myself,” she said. “It’s really nice to be able to give them art I’ve made and watch them appreciate it.”
She has also made noticeable growth from when she first began crocheting. “I’ve reached the point where I can start creating things on my own, without the help of a pattern or a video,” she said.
Lucia has shown herself to be a talented artist who can master almost any medium thrown her way, and we can’t wait to see what she creates next!
