Calico Crafts HK

I was browsing different crochet arts last week and I came across some crochet art that is so unnatural that I get confused. I look into the profile and it turns out it is AI crochet art. I’m not here to discuss whether AI art is acceptable but I know there are some cases where people use AI art to scam people to buy patterns or even products. It is important to identify the real art so you don’t get into losing money!

Please bear in mind that crochet cannot be made by machine, and so far AI did not generate a pattern that is achievable. So always go for a human artist for patterns and products!

I also put here some ways to identify AI crochet art~ 

1. Too perfect color change

In crochet, we change color like a pixel,  a little bit like what you do in Minecraft, each stitch is like a pixel, so it is really rare for a stitch to have more than one color. But in AI art, you will find the color like drawing with pencil, extremely smooth color change. 

2. Blurring yarn and stitches 

Second thing you find in AI crochet is you can’t really see the yarn properly when zooming in. Normally unless it is chenille yarn/feather yarn, you can see the stitches clearly. Knowing that most yarn is formed by multiple threads, you can also see the thread when it is in high quality photos. You can also recognize some v shape and x shape for the stitches while AI art often has blurry stitches.

3. Changing stitches 

Another obvious thing is that when you zoom into the AI picture, the stitches are changing. Sometimes it is using single crochets, sometimes it turns to using double crochet, sometimes it even looks like embroidery. AI did not really know what crochet look like, but more just a kind of thread texture. 

Also, bear in mind that crochet is consist of rounds and rounds of work. AI could not understand this concept, there are often have split rounds and changing direction in AI art.

4. Bright color

AI tends to use bright/rainbow colors. They like using so much color that it is almost impossible to buy such yarn and perform those color changes in real life. Yes there is rainbow color yarn available, but those color will not line up perfectly in each row.

5. Too perfect shape

The shape in the AI crochet is so perfect that all the tiny details can be made. AI art often includes some shape that is not achievable with crochet. For example, the horn in a dragon is so tiny that in reality, we humans are not able to crochet that thin horn with such thick yarn. Another common shape in AI art is that it has the perfect cut/sharp shape. Also, symmetrical shapes are often found in AI art.

A good standard is always go to Etsy/Ravelry to see if you can find shape similar to those AI art. If not, it’s simply because it’s not achievable. 

6. Logical error

AI art still has logical errors such as extra legs, tails. For example, the crochet snake tail are in a weird place, or having two tails. Sometimes the reflection in safety eyes also shows abnormality. You can also tell from the weird background for logical mistakes. For example, twisted basket, weird yarn balls in the background. AI sometimes also make weird crochet hook and stitch markers, for example, a split crochet hook.

7. Only one photo without different angles

Another obvious clue is the lack of photo in different angles. Human designer tends to take more photos to show the 3-dimensional outcome of the pattern. While AI only have one photo without any close-up or different angles. Also, AI will not be having any work-in-progress pictures.

Hope I give you some hints to discover whether it is AI generated or not, and hope no one get scammed!