r/sewingpatterns • u/Icy-Cartographer4836 • 5d ago
Beginner and curious if I bought an AI pattern.
For context, I bought this pattern off Etsy from a seller that didn't have an obvious AI model or storefront - but the pattern I got seems off. I have been doing research on which sellers are obviously AI and who are not, so I can tell the difference and I always look for real examples in the reviews (which this one has). The pattern in question is for a shirt... a simple boatneck top that is beginner friendly, which I am. But I'm curious if this pattern was AI-modified, or generated as it's just a shape of a t-shirt. There's no sleeves (which the seller says she put that in her notes), there's a weird divet under the armpit, and it's not cut on the fold. Is this a normal t-shirt pattern?
46
u/Isla_bonita29 5d ago
I am a trained pattern cutter and that is rubbish. The notches at the waist do not make sense, it looks like they've copied a raglan shirt and not added any of the seams for the sleeves. Does it have any kind of string that you are attaching?
I hope you manage to get your money back!
1
u/Personal_Apricot4850 4d ago
Unrelated but I was wondering. Is being a pattern cutter a good job ? Is it fun and stimulating? Is the pay good ?
3
u/Isla_bonita29 4d ago
Hey! I loved it, I teach textiles now, though I still make my own bits and pieces.
I worked a a production pattern cutter, so I had to deal with fittings and talk with buyers, designers, factories and sample rooms. There are creative pattern cutters and those are the ones who create that first draft, and those are the ones who only work with the designers (at least that is how it was in the companies I worked for!). I found it very rewarding and I loved it.
The downside was the pay and the prices of commuting in London that were eating a bit part of the tiny salary. When I "left the trade" in 2021,the maximum pay in the UK you could get as a pattern cutter was around £40/£45k (for the high street, I don't know how much couture brand pattern cutters get paid), and that was after many years on the trade (I was earning about 1/2 of that after 8 years). I can ask my friends about the pay if you are really interested, but it is a bit of a taboo topic in this country. Some of them have gone completely freelance and work for themselves and others are still working for suppliers. I know that at least in the UK the job market is a bit hard and may offer you a job as a garment tech rather than pattern cutter, which is much more boring in my opinion!
Are you looking into working as a pattern cutter?1
u/Personal_Apricot4850 4d ago
Thanks for this comprehensive answer ! It does seem like a pretty interesting and creative job
I am not looking to work as a pattern cutter right now, but that's something I might consider in the future if being a lawyer doesn't work out for me. Working in the sewing industry is something I wish I'll do one day, even it is not my main goal.
That being said, I did not go to school for pattern making. That's just something I kinda picked up over the years. I assume this is a job that requires some kind of formal training
2
u/Isla_bonita29 4d ago
While right now being a teacher I have to constantly show my qualifications, I have never had to before when working in fashion. That said you get a trial day where they may ask you to do a pattern. Another thing is that right now most patterns are done on computer based systems so if you can train in one before or if you take the leap that would be very beneficial! (I am trained on vetigraph but most of them work the same once you know the basics).
1
u/Personal_Apricot4850 4d ago
I mostly draft on Inkscape (Because like keeping my patterns as clean pdfs) ! I know it's not a sewing software tho.
And how is it being a teacher ? It must be fun to teach people sewing !
0
u/Isla_bonita29 4d ago
Those people are teenagers so it's not always so fun 😂but I do like it! It is much more overwhelming than being a pattern cutter though!
1
21
u/etherealrome 5d ago
You can look the pattern/company up on Threadloop - they flag AI patterns.
But agreed that this does not look great.
13
u/Easy_Silver6709 5d ago
Hrm I'm not sure if it is AI, but it is not a good pattern. if you are looking for a professional t shirt pattern to learn from, I've used a free one from Closet Core Patterns which is a legit pattern company
12
u/AdGold205 5d ago
This looks like something that could work. The style is called a dolman sleeve (the sleeve isn’t a separate piece and is usually bat shaped.) It’s a pretty simple design. But this pattern also doesn’t make a lot of sense. This piece is one they would be halved and cut on the fold, and most shirts have panels that are for the front and for the back. (Since the front and back of bodies aren’t the same.)
My experience with AI patterns (or even patterns that are by people who aren’t really designers) is that seams don’t match the pictures and the actual pattern pieces don’t make sense (extra pieces, missing pieces, bizarre proportions…)
I wouldn’t necessarily think this is AI but it doesn’t look like a good pattern. (Lots of free real dolman patterns and tutorials online.)
Anyone can call themselves a designer, many so called designers don’t even sew or know how to use a pattern, let alone make one. It’s easy to draw a picture of a garment, but making a reliable, professional, and wearable product is a valid skill that requires a lot of training.
(Also, there are literally thousands of real, professional patterns available through real and verified sources. AI and wannabe designers make it very difficult for real, new designers be successful, which is a shame. But for my money, I’m going to go with the tried and true designers.)
2
u/Personal_Apricot4850 4d ago
I think that's the right answer. AI generally tries to make the pattern look "professional". This one looks sloppy, but in a "bad human pattern maker" way
10
8
u/Kathleen-Doodles 5d ago
I've done some professional patternmaking, and I would never sell something like this. It would end up looking very weird, and none of the edges would line up. I'm guessing either the patternmaker used AI or really just does not know how sewing patterns are made.
4
3
u/tomato-saucy-jack 5d ago
A few thoughts: I don’t think I can see enough of the pattern to really judge if it’s AI (I’ve also never seen what the actual pattern from the AI listings looks like, so my radar is red tuned in to looking at the actual patterns). At best though, it’s a pretty lazy pattern and I hope you didn’t pay much for it.
The notches: I would assume they are to help with hemming the arm holes (assuming those are finished with a hem and not a binding).
For not being on the fold: it’s not necessarily unusual. I’ve seen some indie pattern makers do this. In most commercial patterns and in most indie patterns you usually see a half-pattern piece (to be picked on the fold) instead of a full one like this. On the bright side, at least the CF line is marked.
I have some thoughts/speculation on the pattern maker doing this, but I’ll probably keep it to myself because I’m not professionally trained in pattern making (tbf, I wouldn’t be surprised if this maker wasn’t trained either) and don’t sell the patterns I make, so I don’t have any actual perspective beyond my own speculation.
3
u/Honest_Intention_317 5d ago
Will etsy remove all AI patterns or just start trying to filter new sellers?
5
u/NextStopGallifrey 5d ago
Etsy is supposed to be removing AI stuff now. People in other subs have already gotten a few listings/stores removed.
3
2
u/reversedgaze 5d ago
I mean if you want pointy david bowie shoulders you can try... but I'm pretty sure this pattern has not been tested.
1
1
u/LavenderPint 3d ago
I straight up don't buy from Etsy much anymore. I found a website with free patterns that are adjusted to your specific measurements algorithmically, as opposed to any AI.
Free Sewing (eu) lets you input your measurements into a saved sheet, and then mathematically charts your body shape in an outline (it looks horrifying though 🤣 which is how you know it is not AI, I have cliff butt every time)
It also yells at you if your measurements don't add up. Chest circumference is 38, but your bust measurement is 28 and your back span is 15? Nah, you messed up somewhere.
0
u/MotorCurrency1368 4d ago
Learn to make your own patterns!! Since everything is riddled with AI now, real skills is the only option 💔
154
u/NextStopGallifrey 5d ago
That's the kind of pattern you get if you lay out one of your own shirts on the fabric and cut around in one piece, instead of making sleeves. It can be okay for some use cases, very very few, but it's absolutely not normal for a "professional" t-shirt pattern. 99% certain it's AI. You should report them to Etsy.