Be Wary of Scammy, Misleading or Unethical AI

Artificial Intelligence or Actual Ignorance?

Do you spend much time on YouTube? (Or other more nefarious social media platforms.)

I have to admit that in 2025, I turned to YouTube for many things other than sewing ideas. (As a matter of fact, about half of what I'm subscribed to these days has nothing to do with sewing/crafting; they are channels run by rational thinking, ordinary human beings disseminating current events that should be important to all of us.)

For the fact that I've been spending more time on YouTube videos, I can't help noticing that more things are catching my eye from the sidebar recommendations.

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Most notably, I recently became aware that crafting channels are employing AI to create the thumbnail images that appear on their title screens. My first encounter with this phenomena was fairly innocuous: I clicked on a video by a crafter who had showed off a group of small owls made out of old denim. When I got to the end, I thought the finished item was cute, but couldn't understand why I felt less enthused about it than at the beginning. Scrolling through the comments, the reason why became obvious. Someone called her out for encouraging click-throughs by using an AI generated image of the project, which did not resemble the actual finished item. Once I compared them myself, that was unquestionably true.

Is it a matter of ethics?

Now, this is probably one of the least egregious bad outcomes that can happen with AI. This was a free tutorial for a craft that ultimately looked similar. One could say that the most controversial part of it is the idea of trying to get clicks by featuring an image that doesn't accurately represent the finished item. But then this has been happening since before AI; one channel that I've known about for years has consistently used photos – without attribution – of other designers' bags to promote her DIY versions of them.

Being called out won't stop these people from continuing the practice; about that much, I'm sure.

If you're not familiar with what I'm talking about, here's an entirely different example of yet another "denim owl" project that uses AI to attract views on YouTube. (Obviously, the crafter didn't make eighteen of these fabulous, perfectly identical, denim owls.)

Another "denim owl" themed project on YouTube that uses AI-generated images...

When one comes across something like this, it would be natural to be curious to see how they're made, right?

Not wanting to be "gamed" this time, however, I clicked directly to the end of the video. This is what the finished owl(s) that was made during the tutorial actually looks like.

Finished owl keychain project by Ziba Trix on YouTube...

Gotta say, it lacks the "ooh, I gotta make that" feeling that the first image evoked. (Not to pass any judgement on the project itself, but I personally wouldn't have clicked on the video had this image been shown up front. By the way, I think a YouTube video has to engage the viewer for at least thirty seconds in order for it to count as a "view;" therefore my peek at this one most likely didn't count.)

I must admit that the level of adoption of AI by YouTube content creators came as a bit of a surprise to me. (It's probably because I had yet to use any AI tool myself.) Also, it's almost like I hold those "around me" to a higher standard and it's a bit of a letdown to see them succumb to a ubiquitous practice just because everyone else is doing it. (Or perhaps the actual problem is that I'm being a luddite!) In any case, when I saw evidence of it on one of my subscribed channels, I was oddly disappointed.

Ulyana of Estadistica Datos del Mundo has built herself up a following of over one and a quarter million followers since her early 2020 debut on YouTube. It would appear that she has already mastered the "secret" to success on that platform, without the need for AI. But it's clearly being used on her channel, with more recent thumbnails featuring many of whatever the project is. (Now, maybe she did make seven, eight, or fourteen identical whatevers, but I suspect not.)

Obvious AI-generated image of project...

The little heart-shaped pouch that's shown above shows how creators like her are plumbing the depths of AI to come up with project ideas that they then attempt to reproduce. As might be expected, I do believe that the AI created image shows a nicer looking pouch than the actual finished item (see below).

The AI pouch has a larger, curved "flap" that mirrors the rounded outline of the top part of the heart, as well as an additional opposing (non-functional) decorative snap. The real pouch features a simple tab situated along the straight side of the heart. Sewing-wise, the AI version would be difficult to pull off. None of the fourteen pouches in the AI generated image shows the top right side of the pouch from an angle that would reveal how the flap is attached to the base.

Picture of actual project...

There is a common take on the whole "AI thing" that since we can't do anything to stop it, we may as well get on board and take advantage of it ourselves. I'm not sure what my opinion is on the whole matter, but it does muddy the water for everyone. (Spoonflower design competitions, for example, specifically state that AI designs are ineligible.) In cases where no real scam – more on actual scams later – is taking place, raging and stomping one's feet against it can be seen as a bit of an over-reaction.

Over the course of writing up this blog post, I had to – obviously – "create" my first AI image. My prompt was, "I want an image of an owl made out of old denim that is small enough to be used as a decorative keychain."

Denim owl as keychain generated by Artlist...

Not bad, huh? At least this one looks like it was sewn. The sewing might be challenging, but it wouldn't be an insurmountable task. I think that could be a piece of leather being used for the beak, and the claws could certainly be made out of brass coloured beads. Doable. But you know what my next thought was?

As the YouTube commenter above pointed out, this form of AI becomes AI by learning from everything that's out there on the internet. (Which is why my graphic at the top of this post is titled "Artificial Intelligence or Actual Ignorance?") I was at a party last November where a themed version of Jeopardy was being played. When one of my tablemates – a young woman in her early thirties, I suspect – said that she found the (ultimately wrong) answer on ChatGTP, she looked at me like I was from another planet when I told her, "Well, that just goes to prove that ChatGTP is as ignorant as the rest of the internet." It didn't seem to occur to her that online AI wasn't the be-all and end-all of all knowledge.

But back to my AI image... isn't it entirely possible that this might be strongly representative of someone else's intellectual property? (I know; "strongly representative" does not translate into copyright infringement.) Could it be a complete duplicate? Does that ever happen? (I did run it by Google Lens and in this case, did not find any similar matches, never mind exact matches. So perhaps Artlist did a good job here.) All I'm saying is that we just never know if someone's chosen AI tool will decide that an exact copy of something that already exists is the best match for the prompt that it was given.

Dare I say that anyone relying on AI for things and not checking its results is showing real "opposite of intelligence?" 

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Of course, YouTube isn't the only place where AI is tripping out. Literally every social media platform is rife with AI content these days. Manufactured videos have long been popular on Facebook, for example, with many of them spreading misinformation like virtual wildfire.

But I do take issue with the rapidly increasing use of deep fakes to gain clicks. A few days after the death of Rob Reiner, a video showed up in my YouTube feed featuring Billy Crystal talking about how it "should have been him" instead of his friend. Now, I don't know much about Billy Crystal, but what I do know is that he is not a publicity hound and that he and Reiner have a history going back over fifty years. It seemed unlikely that he would come out and speak about this horrific event in such a manner. A quick glance at the comments confirmed that people were chastising this YouTuber for using AI to produce a money grubbing fake video.

My husband likes to say that he can tell when a person is AI generated/deep faked. I think, however, that until/unless one suspects that something is fake, one may not be so astute or discerning. The problem is that we are being forced to look closely at everything to see if it's real or not. I mean, yes to employing good habits to reduce the potential of being scammed (i.e., I didn't think that my prime minister would endorse investments of any kind, but apparently some trusting seniors did) but having to take a magnifying glass to a screen every time you see someone saying something? Anything? That's too much and I don't believe that the vast majority of internet users are up to the task. Unfortunately, our world is quickly descending into a "fake until proven true" reality... and sadly, that just might be the least dangerous part of AI.

In the meantime, what do you think about YouTube videos that entice you to click, based on AI manufactured images? Is it dishonest when the final outcome is not what the image promised? Is it fair play for creators on YouTube to gain views – which boosts their income – because of their "crafty" ability to use AI?

Will this discussion now prompt you to jump to the end of a video as soon as you open it up, just to see if you're being led around by the nose?

Practice smart viewing, I say! (And seriously — keep an eye peeled for real scams. It's better to be skeptical these days.)

'Til next... 🇨🇦🍁

Bundle Sale (!) & An Update on the Search to Replace Makerist

Over a year later, still missing the exposure Makerist provided...

Didn't expect to be back here within a week, but the precise timing of today's post is partly self-serving, as the first half of the title implies. (The other part is informative, as the second half of the title indicates.) In the end, they're both kind of related.

If you're a regular reader, you may recall that Makerist – an online marketplace that allowed us indie designers to sell sewing (and knitting/crocheting, I believe) patterns to the world – closed down permanently about a year ago.

In the weeks and months that followed, I gradually became aware of how much that marketplace meant to me in terms of sales. As in, without it, I've been selling essentially diddly.

It was a conundrum I hadn't expected to last so long.

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In my search for a replacement marketplace last year – and for the record, there is still no real replacement for Makerist, as I will expound upon further at the end of this post – I reached out to three sites.

One was IndiePatterns.com, which appeared – at least on the surface – to be a good match for what I was looking for: various sewing patterns being sold by different designers. In what I can only describe as a business not being willing or able to help itself grow, I made two attempts to make contact and received no replies. (Having described the situation with Makerist in my messages, it was clearly a missed opportunity for any existing marketplace to not even respond.)

One of the other sites that I inquired at was also located in the EU (as in, Makerist was based in the EU) and the prevailing sentiment there was that dealing with their digital tax was too bothersome to accommodate for foreigners; so no luck.

I was ultimately accommodated by Sew Thankful, which has been hosting some of my patterns since April.

Today, I'm here to announce that I've also struck up an agreement with Sew Modern Bags, which is a bag making oriented marketplace that has been around for over a decade.

My shop at Sew Modern Bags...

My patterns are being launched this weekend with an introductory promotional sale. The PDFs for the three projects shown below are available as a bundle for $17 USD.

Sew Modern Bags introductory bundle sale...

The bag making emphasis of Sew Modern Bags means that there is no room for my Voilà Vase pattern, or my Crafty Cosmetics Caddy pattern... not to mention a whole slew of freebie PDFs that have nothing to do with bags.

So you can see how my "what do I do now that Makerist is gone" problem continues.

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Check out crafty classes at Creativebug! [affiliate link]

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Here's the thing: Makerist allowed designers the freedom to set up their own shop on the platform — probably in much the same way as Etsy does, without the onerous fees. I was in control of the messaging behind my shop; I was free to promote and link back to this blog. (I never really considered that Makerist likely drove a bit of traffic to my blog, but the proof is in the pudding there too. A blurb on my shop used to state that patterns were better priced here, and over the past year, direct sales from here have also slowed appreciably.)

[Which is why I figured I'd take advantage of the moment and offer my own bundle sale – with special pricing available for Canadian customers – in conjunction with the one being run by Sew Modern Bags.]

First pattern in my private bundle sale is the Convertible Crossbody FOOLER Bag... 

In terms of pricing, I had the freedom to change product prices at will. I could upload updates to PDFs whenever I wanted, and offer free patterns or "almost free" patterns for customers to sample. If I wanted to make a change to almost anything – at 2:35am in whatever corner of the world I was – I could likely do it on Makerist. (The two platforms that now sell my patterns control all of the back-end, behind the scenes work.)

Second pattern in my private bundle sale is the Bodaciously Basic Bucket Bag...

I had no restrictions as to what price point to sell my products for on Makerist; that's not a luxury I'm currently afforded. (Right now, if I don't sell stuff for a minimal $5, it's likely not worth anyone else's time to promote.) Makerist didn't care that I had a huge selection of freebie patterns on offer. (Right now, at least one of the sites that I work with will not offer free patterns, period.)

Third pattern in my private bundle sale is the Bundled Up Bindle Bag...

The fact that no platform offers these advantages likely means that the arrangement may not have been profitable for the original operator (i.e., the reason why Makerist had to shut down). While I don't know the details, my guess is that the reason for any business to shutter usually has to do with not making sufficient profit.

One year later, I sure wish they had been able to make a go of it, because nothing out there is filling the void that Makerist left. 😞

If you're interested in my private bundle sale above, here's the link to the page to purchase. The three pattern pack for $12 represents a 30% discount and will run for as long as the mood strikes me. (That is, it's subject to end without notice.)

'Til next... 🇨🇦🍁

Upcycling Jeans with Ute Jensen [Pt 2]

A charming turtle basket made out of an old pair of jeans!

Happy Valentine's Day and welcome to part two of my adventure in jeans upcycling, courtesy of the unique creativity of Ute Jensen. Back in November, I posted about the first project that I made with one of her patterns, a whale shaped pencil pouch.

Today I present to you a charming turtle shaped basket made out of a pair of old jeans.

In my first post, I mentioned how potentially challenging it is to handle a heavyweight denim. Not everyone making these projects will have to deal with the same fabric weight, however, so while I had the same issues with this turtle, your mileage might vary if you decide to attempt this.

Definitely a satisfying project, despite challenges...

While I have no real desire to make this again, I totally appreciate that this is one of the more functional uses to which you can put an old pair of jeans. The basket that results is quite roomy and – as you can probably assume – it's durable beyond belief. Not to mention that it's cute as heck!

No matter what whining I may do in the ensuing paragraphs, I highly recommend this project. Particularly if (like me) you have it in mind for a gift, it is well worth your time and effort.

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I mentioned in part one how the designer's creativity extends beyond merely using old jeans as the material of choice, and even beyond the creation of a recognizable "creature" in the process. I repeat, while several people might be able to use old denim to sew a turtle shaped basket, the attention to detail here – in terms of using what already exists on a pair of jeans – is remarkable.

The designer's use of specific parts of a pair of jeans is quite ingenious...

For instance, take a look at the head of this turtle. An existing inside seam from a leg – positioned so that it is centered along the back of the head – adds visual interest, while making use of fabric around seams that might otherwise be trimmed away and discarded.

In the photo below, the interior pockets are all cut from (in my case, anyway) back pockets that I had left over from previously taking apart jeans for the boat tote. (Other locations where these pocket pieces would be harvested from is along the bottom of the pant legs.)

The lining side of the body, interfaced with remnants of an old fleece blanket...

By the way, the only interior pocket that's required is one for the turtle's head. Of the other five, the maker can decide whether or not to include them. In my mind, more pockets is always better when it's an organizer. Deciding to go full bore with all six pockets (as well as an additional coin pocket that was sewn on top of the pocket for the head piece), however, does amp up the trickiness due to the thickness factor.

In this area, I must give kudos to my vintage Kenmore (which is coming up 49 years old – in my possession – this April). It sailed quite smoothly over most of these bulky seams.

This is the outside of the body...

For the turtle body exterior, I followed the designer's suggestion to center the template over an outside leg seam. The result is that each of the six segments is embellished by a double stitched seam down the middle. (Again, this is making use of fabric close to edges of seams that otherwise might not get used at all.)

To make this a complete recycling project, I reused remnants of a fleece blanket as interfacing. Opted to sew it in for the side panels, but used glue on the bottom piece and it held up to my rough "man-handling." The piece of cord for the mouth came from my scraps pile and I used two buttons for the eyes – coloured in the middle with a Sharpie – instead of Kam snaps and felt.

Turned upside down, it is indeed a turtle!

The worst part of the man handling was turning the body part right side out. (Turning the arms and legs right side out was no picnic either, but I had expected that given my experience with the whale tail from the first project.) It took a long time and at one point, I was afraid that the raw edges were going to fray away from all my pulling and yanking. Not fun at all!

One final part that I want to highlight is the attachment of the head. Recall that at least one interior pocket is required; its function is to accommodate the neck and head. As you can obviously see, this piece is stuffed with polyfil – not a whole lot at the base of the neck, but it's not nothing – so the sewing at this final juncture is to push this thick assembly underneath the presser foot and secure it to the body by stitching through many layers. I had to physically lift the presser foot up as far as it would go – as well as lower the feed dogs – but I did manage to get everything underneath and ultimately use my sewing machine to do this... yay for my Kenmore again! (I cannot see the alternative of hand sewing this part to be any easier, to be honest.) 

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Check out crafty classes at Creativebug! [affiliate link]

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For the sewers among us, this basket would be ideal for keeping notions close at hand. For the photo shoot, I crammed in some of my favourite "finds" of 2025: Barefoot Venus body care products.

No end of uses for a basket this big...

We received a Barefoot Venus gift box filled with lotions, creams, bath salts and body wash for Christmas 2023 and both hubby and I loved them. I knew they were on the pricier side of such things, however, and originally did not anticipate making any other purchase after we had used up our box.

Months later, after repeated attempts to undermine our country's identity and economy by forces across the border, I was actively on the hunt for Canadian products. When I finally got around to looking up the company's history, I was surprised to discover that Barefoot Venus actually originated in my home city and is currently comfortably ensconced in the Okanagan Valley. 

Several orders later, I am a customer for life. Ironically, few of my readers are actually Canadian, but to those very few, if you're looking for a homegrown business to support, I highly recommend Barefoot Venus. (And no, they are not paying me to say this.) You are guaranteed to fall in love with how well they work and perhaps unexpectedly — with how they smell! I'm not usually one to care about fragrance but something about these scents is quite enticing and addicting. In the photo above, you can see various samples of their product line, including a (coconut) lip balm, a (vanilla) perfume oil, an (apricot brandy) argan oil, a (gingerbread) hand repair cream, a (peppermint) foot balm, and my fave fragrance: a lemon freckle hand lotion.

And if you're actually reading this on Valentine's Day, maybe go on over to their website and treat yourself to something special at a discount.

'Til next... 🇨🇦🍁

"Warren" Revisited (And Tips for Sewing With Minky)

I make a second "Warren"...

Almost five years to the day after my original post about Warren the Charity Bear appeared on this blog, I was finishing off another one for a new baby in the extended family.

For some reason, I had a fat quarter of my Luminescent Ocean Dreams fabric in minky in my stash. Since it worked so well the first time, it was an easy decision to go with it again. (It was an odd circumstance that I had this, as I've always purchased Spoonflower fabric with a purpose in mind. They run enough sales events for me to wait for a discounted price, whenever I've needed something for a specific project. I don't know what this fat quarter was originally bought for, but now it's a moot point.)

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As a bit of background for those who are unaware, Warren the Charity Bear is a free pattern that has been around for over a decade, created by Wendi at Shiny Happy World. Crafters have likely made hundreds of thousands of different Warrens over that time, gifting them to many, many appreciative kids (and perhaps kids at heart).

Full size Warren template, as well as some smaller versions...

Designed as a simple pattern for an "easy sew" (more about how easy it may actually be later), Warren appeals to gifters and recipients alike, since he will almost always be unique (unless you are the sort to make the exact same model – deliberately – each time) and because he's so eminently huggable and squishable. The pattern comes with basic elements in various shapes that allow you to differentiate your creations, so part of the fun is in deciding how you want your particular bear to turn out.

What makes this project so ultimately accessible to everyone is that you can use old clothing to make it. There's no need to go out and buy fabric if you have old sweats, t-shirts, or fleece blankets lying around that are no longer in their best shape. As for the sewing, I still have more to say later, but people have been known to hand sew their Warren bears, so a sewing machine or the skills to use one are not required. (If you choose to hand sew, perhaps you can attempt a bear family by also printing out the pattern in reduced sizes and making a couple of smaller ones.)

This Warren has white ear tips...

Even though I used the same fabric as my first Warren, there are some differences between the two. First, when cutting the pattern, I made effective use of Spoonflower's traditional white border to give this Warren some white ear tips.

Second, I could not find any red felt in my boxes of "sewing stuff" (even though I am convinced that I must still have at least enough to serve my intended purpose here), so this bear doesn't have a heart patch. 😞

Third, I refrained from adding a tail to his backside. 😏

Finally, instead of hand sewing, I machined stitched the eyes, nose and muzzle to the minky. (Use matching thread, a short stitch and go slowly.)

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Check out crafty classes at Creativebug! [affiliate link]

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Which brings us to the second topic of this post: how to make sewing with minky less stressful. This furry fabric was not widely available when I started sewing way back when, even though I've heard its history goes back further than we'd guess. In the past couple of decades, however, it's become a favourite with crafters to make plushie toys and blankets. (Apart from Warren, I've actually used it to make a pair of mitts, a headband, and some fingerless gloves.)

But it's a slippery, stretchy, and fluffy – i.e., it will shed all over the place – material that can annoy you to no end when you cut and sew your first project with it. If, like me, your first projects are relatively small things (Warren is still relatively small), you may be able to make do just fine by going slowly and taking your time. But if your project plans involve even a small sized blanket, for instance, you may want to take note of these upcoming tips.

Gifting the bear with a note of "explanation"...

Minky Tip #1: Change to a Ballpoint Needle

I know that most of us don't chuck our needles after "each" project – because a project means different things in different circumstances – so you likely have a used ballpoint needle in your supplies. But if it's high time to break out a new one, so much the better when you're sewing with minky. (If you need to be convinced about this one, take a scrap of minky and try sewing on it with your regular needle. If you're lucky, the fabric won't end up being pushed into the sewing machine feed dogs!) A ballpoint needle will perform so much better and allow you to focus on all the other ways that your minky might end up challenging you.

Minky Tip #2: Stabilize it to Prevent Stretching

This tip is a game changer if you do it from the start; i.e., before you cut. Even if you have a great pair of scissors, cutting minky isn't fun due to its slipperiness and stretchiness. (And of course, the frustration is greater the smaller the piece is.) The secret ingredient for success in this case is something that you might have in your kitchen: Glad Press N Seal. Press this onto the fabric edges, pin the template on top, and say goodbye to the shifting and shedding when you cut!

image courtesy of YouTube (Robyn's Love of Sewing)...

The use of Press N Seal is especially helpful when sewing large pieces, due of the nature of the product (its firm but removable adherence to virtually anything). If you're making a blanket, a strip on both sides along the edges ensures that top and bottom pieces remain joined together – without pins – while you sew right on top of the Press N Seal.

Of course, if you have some lightweight fusible interfacing, you can use that to stabilize minky as well. That would, however, become a permanent part of the back of the fabric (unless you succeed at peeling it off), which will change how it feels, whereas the Press N Seal can be easily removed after sewing.

Minky Tip #3: Use a Walking Foot

I don't have a walking foot for my sewing machine and have not needed one enough times for me to change that, but if you have one, by all means use it for minky. A walking foot's main characteristic is that it has its own set of feed dogs that clamp onto whatever you're sewing – from the top, to mimic the same action that your sewing machine's feed dogs are performing from the bottom – so that it moves along precisely, without shifting or sticking or stretching.

That said, follow tips #1 and 2 and I guarantee you'll have an easier time with your minky project, even if you don't have a walking foot.

And now, back to the topic of actually sewing up a Warren Charity Bear. The curviness of the body, combined with the pronounced protrusions of the ears, arms and legs make this less of an "easy sew" when sewn by machine. I believe those who are beginner sewers will find it easier to sew this bear by hand, because the seam allowance can be better managed if you do it one careful stitch at a time... which, on a sewing machine, would require one to go very slowly.

My advice then, is to learn how to do a backstitch by hand and your Warren will turn out magnificently. If there is a next time, I may give it a try. (Yep, the me who hates hand sewing! 😜)

'Til next... 🇨🇦🍁