Keeping Handmade Human

Why it's important to keep AI out of our crafts.

If you have purchased a craft pattern or e-book lately and have noticed that something about the photos feels off, or that it promises instructions for creating a project, but the information is so vague it's useless. You may have purchased an AI-generated pattern.

AI stands for Artificial Intelligence. AI is being used all over the internet now. From browser search bars to customer service chatbots, it’s hard to avoid AI when you are online.

Unfortunately, AI has impacted the world of arts and crafts, too. I'm speaking as an embroidery artist, but I know AI has had a negative impact on many crafts, from crochet to stained glass. There are several problems with these patterns, but the biggest is the unrealistic stitchwork. I have seen very few AI-generated embroidery patterns that can actually be stitched or made to look like the images. This can be very frustrating for beginners. If you are just picking up a new craft for the first time and a poor AI tutorial destroys your confidence, you may never realize how much you actually love that craft.

The second problem is the instructions. When a design is shown with unachievable stitches or stitch patterns, it’s not possible for a computer to write accurate instructions. As someone who also does machine embroidery, I know there is software that can generate stitches for you (though they differ from hand embroidery). However, I also know that if a machine embroidery design is not created properly and tested by a human, it can damage a very expensive machine. AI lacks the understanding of when or how to use different threads. It doesn't know which stitches to use to create specific textures, and it lacks the knowledge that comes from thousands of real stitching experiences.

The third problem is its impact on real artists. When AI-generated patterns started flooding the Etsy marketplace, I took mine down. It takes me days or even weeks to create, stitch, and write a full tutorial, and I knew I couldn't compete with AI-produced patterns on either quantity or price. I felt there was no point in continuing my work. For over a year, I focused solely on selling supplies. It took me far too long to realize that my handmade embroidery patterns offer something AI simply can’t replicate.

My Promise to You

I am here to share my passion with others, so it is essential that all my embroidery designs, patterns, and tutorials are created entirely by me. From the initial drawing to the final stitch, my hands do it all.

I do not use artificial intelligence to generate stitched images or finished embroidery pieces. Furthermore, I do not employ AI to write my patterns, tutorials, or blog posts. However, I do use Grammarly to assist with punctuation, spelling, and sentence structure.

I will never attempt to pass off an AI-generated image as my own embroidery or as any original artwork.

There is a theory that AI might eventually take over, rendering humans unnecessary. However, until that day comes, I will continue to be here, helping people create beautiful things with their hands. Let’s embrace the human connection together and leave the handicrafts to the humans!

I got duped by AI too, and it could have been dangerous.

If you are feeling bad because you fell for something AI-generated, please don't; it can happen to anyone.

I had been working with stained glass for a while, but I wanted to try my hand at fused glass. After gathering the necessary supplies and reading several tutorials on reputable websites, I was excited to begin fusing glass. I created a few pieces, but I found them somewhat boring. So, I began searching for a book or tutorial that offered something more exciting.

Eventually, I came across an e-book showcasing some of the most beautiful fused glass creations I had ever seen. I was amazed and eager to try to recreate some of these pieces. However, a few pages into the book, I realized I had been misled. Each image had the same basic instructions, which I can't remember exactly, but they essentially said, "stack glass and fuse."

At that point, I felt disappointed but continued reading. Toward the end of the book, the author suggested adding small pieces of carved wood into the fused glass pieces. Since fused glass requires a kiln heated to around 1500°F, I realized that following this advice could have potentially burned down my house. After gaining more experience, I learned that the glass piece in that book would be impossible to create. Unfortunately, the entire book was created by AI.

In another post, I will cover how to spot an AI-generated embroidery pattern.