On Saturday, we had two folks come in for help with two different patterns - one knit, one crocheted.
The crocheter was confused about a portion of instructions. She had tried over and over again to do the set up rows for the cute teddy bear she was making, but the instructions didn't make sense, and the stitch counts were completely off. She asked us to help her, and upon closer reading, we figured out that the pattern was A.I. The image had been stolen from another creator.
The knitting pattern was even more innocuous looking! We only caught it when helping look for the correct yarn. The photo of the jacket was ombre, using 2 strands held together to create the gradient effect. The pattern was written for a sweater, not a jacket, and only used one strand of yarn, which was the wrong weight.
With A.I. getting better and better, how can you avoid being duped? If you have doubts about your pattern, try the following tricks:
(click on the images to make them larger!)
1. Reverse Search Your Pattern
Is this pattern being offered by multiple people, or is it the same designer across platforms? Is this being offered on reputable platforms (Ravelry) or only on non-reputable sites? Are there any reviews of the project or photos of completed objects? Are the images stolen from another pattern?
Choose your patterns from a reputable source, such as Ravelry, Knitty.com, or other well known Yarn-Brand websites.
2. Scrutinize the Images
Are the stitches real? Do they line up? Are the materials consistent in size and structure? If it is an amigurumi, can it stand/sit on its own? Are the lighting and shadows consistent? Does the image have the "A.I. Cinematic Haze"? We have attached AI generated images below with examples of the scrutinizing we do on possible A.I. patterns.
3. Is it Logical?
Sometimes, the images aren't enough, and you need to look at the chart or PDF pattern for further evaluation.
We've generated and attached two AI generated patterns for this specific example. On first glance, nothing looks amiss. Once you look closer, the patterns fall apart.
3. When in Doubt, Ask Us!
Email us the link before you purchase, or bring the pattern to us in person. A second set of eyes never hurts, and we look at patterns all day, so we know when something is fishy.
We know it's a lot of information being thrown at you! You don't need to check every pattern - just the ones that you have doubts about.
