CHERRY VALLEY, Calif. — A 15-year-old girl in California spent the better part of a year laboring to bring a very personal touch to a very special day.
A quinceañera is a Hispanic tradition that celebrates a girl's 15th birthday, honoring her continuing journey to womanhood.
Noemi Mendez, of Riverside County, decided in January she wanted to crochet her own quinceañera dress.
She was self-taught and had been crocheting for a couple of years, mostly making dolls for family and friends.
Mendez documented the months-long, painstaking process on Instagram.
"I've been crocheting for a while. And I was just like, you know what I want to see how far I can go," said Noemi Mendez. "So I was like, you know what mom, can I crochet my quinceanera dress? And she said, sure why not."
Her efforts paid off, with Mendez celebrating her quinceañera with the finished dress.
She would like to make it a family tradition, perhaps giving it to her daughter some day for her to wear.
"It's special to me," said Mendez. "Like if I was to have a child some day, I could give it to my daughter, if she wants it."
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