Buying on esty and AI generated files

wolfie

I was just searching on Etsy some patterns I am interested in purchasing. Most pictures are AI generated and this puzzles me a lot, since I actually don't know which pattern I am about to get.

Do you share the same doubt I'm feeling?

kurukurokurin

If the product image is AI generated, I see that as a huge red flag. Have they even tried the pattern they most likely generated in the first place? I wouldn't waste your money.

If you are really interested in a pattern, look up the designer. Look for reviews. Look at past pattern reviews. Do your research. If there's something iffy going on, don't buy.

I'd personally avoid all together (I think my stance on AI used in this way is pretty clear!) but freedom of choice and all that.

diystuff

No.  I don't care and I'm really tired hearing people bleat on about AI and Etsy.  Buy magazines if you're scared of progress.  AI is not going away.

Atheos

AI has made pattern testers a necessity for people who make patterns. It's better to stick to designers who do have them in their product images.

Luvs2Craft

It's a shame Etsy has come to this.  Personally, I wouldn't purchase a pattern with an AI picture.  Some of the photos are of actual patterns, but the seller uploads an original photo into AI and asks AI to write a pattern for it.  Most of the patterns are incomplete or incorrect.  You are better off trying to find the original designer and purchasing from them.

kurukurokurin

oopsiepoopsie replied at 2026-5-24 18:43
I’m very careful about what I buy because of AI. I certain hope no one upload AI patterns because t ...

Unfortunately that's already happened - they don't always disclose the patterns are AI generated here despite me making many suggestions about how best to do so, etc so please be careful!

SpiralBreeze

Amazon even has AI generated knitting pattern books, but it’s fairly easy to spot that it’s not real.  Usually the needles have hooks on them that aren’t even crochet based.  The stitches are impossible, and everything is just off.  I really scrutinize everything now because of it.

cindyxs234

AI unfortunately is here to stay. There so many patterns now that you can spot them right away. I will continue to support designers I know who do not produce these patterns.  Most AI patterns are cheap so you know they are useless.  Many designers are now stating 'Human Made not AI'

oopsiepoopsie

I’m very careful about what I buy because of AI. I certain hope no one upload AI patterns because they will bad and it makes good patterns harder to shift through unless you know exactly the name of a pattern you’re looking for

AlexisHelman

Definitely don't buy anything AI generated. It's so upsetting these slop "patterns" are permeating through legitimate craft websites, but trust, AI cannot even pretend to write a cohesive pattern lol.

coxb

Thank you.

rubyyy

If it is a craft that I am not too familiar with (knitting and sewing are my jam) like cross stitch, I double check on Reddit and Instagram if there is any talk or projects about the designer and designs

saja.kashmir

A good place to see community pattern reviews is Threadloop! They also will flag designers that create AI patterns or use AI images to represent their patterns.

amorabubble

I second using Threadloop for this. I always read the reviews there before buying patterns