By Nicki Byrnes
October 15, 2024
Have you seen any of the AI-generated crochet images on the internet, like these sweet grandmas who appear to have made the world’s largest crochet cats?
Don’t Be Fooled
While these visuals can be entertaining, they aren’t real; they’re generated by AI, or artificial intelligence, and are prevalent across the internet. This isn’t an issue when they’re just being used for likes and entertainment. What becomes problematic is when crochet “designers” use AI to create enticing photos and patterns and sell them. Without actual knowledge of how to design a piece and write its pattern, the final products fail to match the promised designs. This leaves paying customers frustrated and disappointed.
Writing a pattern is hard work. It takes a lot of thought to translate an idea or sketch into a written crochet pattern. Many crochet designers have loads of experience writing patterns so they are user-friendly. Some event have them tested by paid pattern testers before publishing to ensure accuracy. That is not happening with AI generated patterns, as you can see in this video or this NBC News article. This is frustrating for those who paid for the pattern and invested time in the project. Ultimately, it sheds doubt on future pattern purchases.
How can you discern a real vs. AI-generated crochet pattern? This Reddit thread highlights 3 signs:
- Cinematic, movie-like lighting and/or backgrounds
- Unrecognizable or confusing stitch types in the photo
- Very large and epic projects, like the cats above or the popular car images
Let’s Test it Out
I tested chatgpt’s capability using a simple scarf pattern idea. I told it the type and color of yarn, crochet hook size, and stitch type to use and asked it to write the pattern. Overall, it looked pretty good. It had errors, like saying it will have 203 “wraps” when it meant stitches. Those little details can become major problems as a pattern gets more complicated.
I also asked it to create an image of the finished piece based on the pattern. Notice all the different stitch types, despite the pattern saying it is only single crochet. The neck portion looks like bobble stitches at the top, below it looks like puff stitches, and then ends of the scarf look like knitting! Also, the pattern never mentioned gray.
Pros & Cons
It will be groundbreaking when AI can write a perfect crochet pattern for you in seconds. Being able to sketch a design, upload it, and receive a ready-to-use pattern within moments would drastically simplify the process. However, as seen with my scarf, this convenience comes with pros and cons.
How cool would it be to get instructions (for free!) handed to you so you can crochet whatever you dream up? It would make crochet design accessible for everyone. Gone would be the need for prior experience or hours of research. It would save SO much time and effort. It would take out all the guesswork, trial and error, and frogging that often goes into pattern design.
It takes work to figure out how to write a pattern. It requires an understanding of how pieces are made, like all the various garment construction methods. Having AI write your crochet pattern would reduce all that time previously spent on the components of a good crochet pattern, including:
- What tools and materials you used
- Your gauge
- The finished size/dimensions
- Pattern notes with tips and special instructions like unique stitches
- Stitch and row counts that will result in the aforementioned size
- Row by row instructions that are easy to follow and accurate so the user ends up with the same piece you did
- You have to actually crochet the piece to make sure your instructions are correct
- Photos of the finished product for marketing
Having AI do all that work for you would be an amazing resource. But there are cons. Just as we learn fundamental math before relying on calculators, understanding the basics of crochet pattern writing is important. We need to understand the “why” of how things work.
We still need to know what elements go into writing a pattern to understand how crochet pieces are made. Our choices impact the piece, like which construction method will lay the best on a body, which yarn will result in the right drape, or which stitches will create your desired texture. Any crocheter can spot a quality handmade crochet piece versus the products sold in stores like Target right now. For the sake of our craft and maintaining its integrity, we can’t let our knowledge of its intricacies die.
Bottom line, AI isn’t going anywhere. As it improves in creating accurate crochet patterns, my hope is crocheters will still prioritize fully embracing the craft. It’s vital to comprehend how a set of instructions leads to a specific finished product. Keep experimenting with stitch options and exploring yarns to understand how its width and material affects a final piece. Most importantly, let’s continue to support and value the work of designers who invest their time and effort into creating beautiful, tested patterns for the sake of others to enjoy.
To get started on your crochet design journey, check out my blog posts, How to Design a Crochet Sweater: Intro and How to Design a Crochet Sweater: Step-by-Step Guide.
Or, read about my first magazine cover design, my Retro Revival Granny Square Sweater.
nickibyrnescrochet.com 