Recently, a new scamming technique has been growing at a rapped rate in the crochet community – the rise of AI-generated crochet images and scam sites using other peoples Etsy listings to make money. These digitally crafted creations and scam sites often seem like the real deal, and they’re popping up all over platforms like Etsy and Facebook, fooling unsuspecting shoppers.
In this blog post, I’m going to get into the crochet pattern selling world, explaining the differences between AI-generated crochet images and real images taken by talented crafters with their phones, I’m also going to tell you how to spot a scamming site selling stolen patterns and when it is the real deal.
AI Generated Crochet Images
Artificial intelligence has come a long way, and it’s now able to create incredibly realistic images and designs. Crochet is no exception to this trend. AI can generate images that mimic crochet projects, making it difficult for the untrained eye to differentiate between the real and the virtual.
AI-generated crochet images doesn’t cost the creator anything and quick to generate. For scammers, this means easy money with minimal effort. They can create visually appealing images without ever picking up a hook or yarn, and then sell these designs to unsuspecting shoppers as finished crochet products or patterns.
AI-generated images:
7 points to tell when a image is AI -generated
Texture and Detail:
The very first thing you will notice when looking at an image generated by AI is the texture of the stitches. A crochet stitch typically has the shape of an X or V when observed up close. AI is improving in replicating this on the flat, front-facing sections of an image, but it loses that texture around the bends and curves of the head, ears, and feet. You will also notice that the stitch texture changes throughout the photos, sometimes resembling a knitted texture. In AI-generated images featuring humans, it becomes evident that they are fake because the people in the photos have missing toes or fingers, distorted eyes, or their hands seem to disappear into the crochet project.
Lighting and Shadows:
Authentic images capture natural lighting and casting shadows, which gives depth and realism to the project. AI-generated images mostly concentrating on the stand alone Amigurumi, usually have unnatural lighting, a glow from behind or sunrays coming from behind or from a corner and not reflecting on the image itself.
Background:
Another dead giveaway that it’s AI-generated is the unrealistic backgrounds. The fake illustrated grass, mushrooms, or fireflies in the background almost appear sketched or painted. Crafters sometimes take photos with their yarn wall in the background, or they use a studio setup with blankets, baskets, or flowers, all providing depth. In AI-generated photos, the backgrounds are usually heavily blurred and darkened.
To perfect:
AI-generated images are “too perfect.” There will never be a toy leaning a little to the side, an ear facing forward, or slightly twisted. When you look at a real photo taken by a crocheter, you’ll notice that they aren’t always perfect; something will be slightly out of place.
Lack personal touch:
AI-generated images almost never create a person holding the project because it hasn’t mastered the texture of a person’s hand. The project will always be standing alone in some magical forest or studio setup with no personal touch, such as a coffee mug, plant, lights, or textured material.
Community Engagement:
Crafters almost always share work-in-progress of their creations, and these photos will usually contain different backgrounds, lighting and the crafter holding the project. AI- Generated images lack this personal feeling and you will never see a work in progress photo of the image.
To good to be true:
Many of these designs are clearly unrealistic projects supposedly made by hand. Oversized, realistic photos of crochet animals are frequently shared, and people comment, wondering how these creations were made without the person developing carpal tunnel or early onset arthritis, which is common among crocheters. This is because it’s impossible for one person to make something that life-sized. So when you see a photos of old ladies with huge crochet animals know that they are all generated by AI.
Realistic photos: (Click on photo for the pattern)
Scammers on Etsy and Facebook
Scammers are using AI-generated images more frequently than before because it makes it harder to be removed from Etsy as a seller if you aren’t actually selling someone else’s work. If someone is selling a copy of your pattern, you can report it, and Etsy removes and bans the shop, but now with AI they can get away with their scam for longer.
How to Spot fake websites and sellers on Etsy
Pattern designers are in a daily battle with fake websites and Etsy shops selling rip-offs or genuine copies of their patterns. My “Cuddle Me Cow” pattern has been uploaded to these scamming websites, and I’ve witnessed many other designers struggling with the same issue. These scammers are becoming more cunning, but I’m here to show you what to look out for when you come across one of these sites.
The URL / website name:
These are the most common giveaways when you come across these ads on Facebook. The sites will almost always have names like “TheCrochetWebsite,” “FunkyCrochetPatterns,” “FreeCrochetPatterns,” “CrochetClub,” “CrochetStitch,” and “CrochetMagazine.” Most authentic designers will have their business name “That contains their personal name” as their URL, and when you search that name on Google, you will find links to their Facebook pages, Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest.
Website content:
When browsing websites, you can easily distinguish between a scamming website and the authentic shop of a crochet designer. Genuine crochet designers often feature a photo of themselves in the sidebar or at the bottom of their site, providing insight into their background and the story of how they embarked on their crochet business journey. Furthermore, they typically include an “About” section in the menu bar, where they share personal details such as when they started their business and the motivations behind it.
Real designers frequently include links to their other social platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. You’ll also find email list signup popups that offer exclusive coupons or free patterns.
The patterns:
As you scroll through a designer’s website, you’ll likely notice a distinctive style. All the patterns and photos share a similar look and feel, even though the projects may vary in shapes and sizes.
In contrast, scamming sites usually offer a wide variety of patterns, with each one looking different from the previous. The overall appearance of the photos also differs significantly. Some are taken outdoors in bright and sunny conditions, while others are set up in a studio, and these setups vary drastically from one to another. You may even come across AI-generated images interspersed among them.
The reviews:
These sites often display thousands of 5-star reviews, with people overly praising the patterns. However, if you scroll through these reviews, you’ll frequently come across the pattern designer’s name mentioned or different pattern from the one listed in the photos. This is because these scammers copy and paste reviews from the Etsy listings they’ve stolen patterns from. They even incorporate the photos provided in the reviews, attempting to deceive you into thinking that customers made the items after purchasing the patterns from their shop.
Genuine shop reviews, on the other hand, typically won’t have a 100% 5-star rating. They will also often times have less reviews than sales.
Do a Google image search:
If you aren’t sure if you buying from the original designer or you think it might be an AI-generated image, take a screenshot and do a Google image search, you will often find the original designer of the pattern.
Fake sellers on Etsy
Most of the points mentioned above also apply when you’re shopping on Etsy. Always visit the shop directly to ensure you’re purchasing from the original designer.
Fake shops will lack the following details and information:
- No profile picture
- No banner or shop icon
- No description in the announcement
- No information about the designer at the bottom of the shop
- No links to other platforms or websites
- Descriptions of each pattern is structured and written differently and lack information
- Only one listing photo
- Short titles with limited information
- Listing photos and patterns look completely different from each other
- Crocheting styles change with each pattern listed.
PS. If you have a Etsy shop and it sounds like your shop I have mentioned above make sure to go and change these because people will mostly likely not buy from you.
Check out my latest FREE pattern HERE.
Supporting Genuine Crafters
To support genuine crochet artists and designers, here are some practices you can adopt:
Buy from Reputable Sources: Whenever possible, purchase patterns and products directly from the designer’s website or from established, reputable marketplaces like Etsy or Ravelry.
Share the Love: If you come across a talented crocheter, be sure to promote their work by sharing their shop links to your networks.
Report Suspected Scammers: If you believe you’ve encountered a scam, report it to the platform you’re using and let the crochet community know to protect others. You can even place the link to the original pattern in the comments where people ask for it.
Support Original Designs: Encourage creativity and the growth of the crochet community by purchasing and promoting original designs.
In the ever-evolving world of crochet, embracing new technologies like AI can be exciting, but it’s essential to remain vigilant against scams and support the talented individuals who put their heart and soul into this amazing craft that can only be done by hand.
