Welcome to the bitesized BEC thread!
You have the freedom to indulge in BEC-style (b*tch eating crackers) vent comments in this thread. Naming examples is not required (gasp!) but majority of r/craftsnark rules still apply. Basically, don't be shitty and ruin the thread for others.
I have yet to see ANYTHING made in Noro yarns that looks good. I think maybe they have one colorway that isn’t atrocious (when knit and crocheted) and it’s Sake. I’ve seen some beautiful weaves made with Noro yarns, but to me most of the colorways look so cheap. I’m always kind of baffled that people love it so much when the only colorways that aren’t an affront to god are the solids. I’m wondering if maybe it’s just because to me a lot of self striping yarns are ugly, or if I’m just not seeing the vision. It kind of feels a lot of the time like people are using Noro because of the popular name and as a status symbol rather than an actually aesthetically pleasing result. Does anyone know of any patterns that would look good with a self striping yarn like Noro? Or have any finished objects they’re really proud of made with Noro? I would love to have my mind changed lol
So much has been said already about some knit designers having... less than great requirements for test knitters ("at least 3 modeled photos and 3 instagram posts the day of launch!"), but this was a whole new one for me.
Screenshots are from a Kay Hopkins test knit on Yarnpond. I really like some of Kay's patterns, but reading these test knit requirements kind of soured me on those patterns. If I'm a tester, I have to give the pattern five stars? And if I don't, you won't publish it? That's certainly *a* choice. And "Neckline should be at least steam blocked" followed by 'but I didn't steam block mine' is very funny to me.
I know I don't have to sign up for this test knit (and I'm not planning on signing up for this one), I was just surprised at how brazen this was and wanted to share.
I've been looking for funkier pants pattern that I can make out of linen for summer and found what I thought was a perfect pattern....except it includes everything except yardage. They took the time to include a bracket with inches and centimeters for sizing but when I went to check yardage requirements because I'm hoping to use up some of my stash I see that all they say is that its between 2.2m and 4.6 m....what am I suppose to do with that? What if I spend the 20$ just to find out my stash linen is less than the requirement? Do I sit there and buy more linen? Now I have to weigh if its worth investing in this pattern because there's a chance this project isn't just 20$ and stash linen, its 20$ and ???? I've been eyeing up some Blackbird linen which goes for about $30 a meter so that can be an additional $66-$138 worth of fabric. I'm not in the mood to gamble, I came here to sew.
Additionally, because I was more hesitant to buy this pattern, since I wasn't sure of the yardage, I found another similar pattern. The Helios trousers by Indigoindigo....where I promptly found the only fabric requirements they list is that the pants require 2.6 meters of fabric for an average length. Quick question, whats an average length and also you want me to believe that a pattern covering waists sizes 65cm- 122cm can all utalize 2.6 meters of1 fabric the same?
I don't mind higher prices to support indie designers, but I don't see the point if I'm paying higher cost and not even getting the bare minimum info. It's hard enough to project plan and budget for fabric when the yardage is available.
Multiple times over the past months, I have been scrolling Pinterest and come across photos of myself and my knitted shorts with text such as ‘10 free knitted shorts patterns’ or ‘Free crochet shorts patterns’ superimposed on top. The account is always an AI-slop ‘crafting’ account which states it is for the knitting and crochet community and wants to make crafting accessible. The accounts have millions of monthly views, likes and interactions. I see other stolen photos from designers on these accounts too and honestly I am just baffled!!
I have tried reporting the accounts and pins and so far I am still waiting on Pinterest’s review process (I’m not confident anything will eventuate). I have reached out to the account holders when they have Instagram linked in their bio and immediately get blocked.
I really cannot comprehend how people are engaging with this kind of content, let alone creating it. I’m not sure if these accounts are selling bootleg versions of my pattern, as I only just released it and have been seeing these posts for months. The links on the posts always go to some random, ad-choked blog or something completely unrelated, but always use my image to promote it and seemingly suggest that my shorts are a free pattern you can access via their site.
To be honest it just feels really icky. It is super creepy to come across images of yourself online that other people have used AI to ‘enhance’ and promote whatever it is they are trying to promote. I know this is a topic which is frequently talked about, but I needed to complain about it to people who have the same exasperation with AI-slop images and these types of accounts in crafting spaces as I do.
The photos are screenshots from the most recent account I have come across, and the last photo is my original one for reference.
Every day I'm amazed by how shitty people are
Edit: this isn't me but the designer shopdaisyanddime
Studio Klara (@_studioklara) just made a post about this brand Omnes copying their Tomato Sweater design.
I see Klara's point that Omnes' vest is a mix of the two patterns. However, I don't think these are original ideas. It's literally just a vest with a tomato print? No one else can design a tomato top now?? And her asking Omnes for a comission on the sale of each vest is kinda crazy to me lol
I knew something rubbed me the wrong way about Jessilou but it became more clear to me when people here were talking about the MLM vibes. Then recently someone asked about a dress she was wearing and A.) She named the incorrect pattern and B.) Directed the person to go to her ShopMy page instead of just saying the designer or god forbid, linking them. For someone who seems to want to uplift indie designers it feels pretty scummy to hide links to pattern behind third party app clicks to make a profit instead of sending that traffic directly to the pattern designer.
I saw on Instagram that knitting designer Elenor Mortensen has had some of her images stolen by Knitting Collective on Patreon. Knitting Collective are selling knitting patterns on Patreon with different names but they feature images of her original knitting patterns
I looked into it and found that its not just her work but a number of other designers. They have renamed the sweaters/tops etc and in some cases changed the colours but they are clearly another designers original work. In some cases they definitely will not have the original pattern (one of the Eleanor Mortensen pattern is not even released yet!) and they are charging more than some of the designers for a pattern too! As they are using images of a knitting pattern designed by someone else they are infringing the copyright of the designers and I'd imagine that there is a good chance any patterns they have for sale are either pirated or written by AI.
I sent all the information to Patreon including the names of the garments in question with the knitting collective name and the actual designers and garment names and basically was fobbed off! Incredibly disappointing response from Patreon!!! I've included screenshots from my message to Patreon and their response.
I am sure there are probably others but the artists I identified were-
Elenor Mortensen is the actual designer of rosewood bloom (actually called wildflower tee and it's not even been released yet!)
Ami Lowden is the designer of moonflower lace (actually called Whitmore cardigan)
Cheryl Mokhtari is the designer of serene blue cosy cardigan/neutral bloom cardigan (actually named Maude Cardigan)
Manja Vogelsang is the designer of blue raven Nordic (actually called Birdsong)
I am so disappointed with Patreons response! I never buy from anywhere other than Ravelry and a small handful of designers direct but I bet other people do trust a company like Patreon!
As of now Knitting Collective is still up so I'm sharing on here and I'll try and let all the designers know too.
Edit to add - I've now contacted all the designers I identified and hopefully they can do something to take their items down but this doesn't stop the original creator of doing it over and over with different designers!
If anyone identifies any other patterns then please reach out to the designer so Patreon can hopefully do something about it!
Also yes I understand that only the artist can make a copyright complaint however the problem with that response is that it absolves the company from actually doing something about the creator doing it (only addresses individual items on their page not the fact that they are creating fake content) and it does not protect the consumer or the designer.
It’s been 3 months since this disaster of a “makeover” and I was curious about any updates. I know she pronounced that this was a risky passion project/ new career and that if it wasn’t ’paying its own rent’ after a couple months she’d havta abandon ship. Does she still rent/ own this place? If so, why aren’t there any new videos with it featured? I actually found this whole trajectory really inspiring and wish she put more effort into it…
Now I am not usually at all judgemental when it comes to podcasters flashing their yarn stash, or showing their latest hauls, infact I actually enjoy watching them! I believe that if you are can affort to purchase more yarn, then no one should be judged on what they spend their money on......however, I have just had to switch off 1/2 way through a 'help me organise some commercial stash' podcast simply because it made me so overwhelmed! It was cringeworthy!
This podcaster had hoards of yarn stored in every room in her home! The only room she didn't mention was her bathroom/lavatory, which I wouldn't be surprised if she said she had yarn in there too! She has it stored in her living room, kitchen, hallway, on her landing, in her and her husband's bedroom, and also in both her children's bedrooms (they are bother 10+). And as she was going through all this yarn, and talking about how overwhelmed it all makes her feel, she was also showing another haul she had only received days earlier and talking about yarn that was on its way!
This was the first yarn stash/tour/haul video that I actually had to stop watching because I felt uncomfortable watching it! Has anyone else felt like this, and what do you say or do!? In my experience, I have only ever seen viewers leave comments like, 'wow, what a great stash!', or telling that podcaster 'to try and not be too overwhelmed' - but is that helping really them or just 'giving them the ok' to keep on adding to their stash, which is obviously making them overwhelmed, thus making their problem bigger?
Not sure if we consider baking as a craft but on Tiktok there is a copying accusation going on with Cake by Kaity accusing Sweet Treats by Ashley of stealing her proprietary Fruity Pebbles cakepop recipe despite not having access to the secret recipe.
Mind you the recipes are based on box cake ratios.
Apparently Cake by Kaity threatened to sue Ashley who has been in business for all of 2 weeks.
Now the dispute has gone viral Daisy Makes has cancelled their collaboration with Cake by Kaity and Fruity Pebbles themselves have gotten in on the action by posting their own cake pop recipe.
This drama seems even stupider than some of the knitwear designer ones so I thought it might be a nice snark change of pace.
The new 2026 machine models were unveiled at 2026 Bernina University in New Orleans. This year's "collab" (sigh) is Liberty fabrics. A 5 series and a 7 series. The machines are *gorgeous*. And, of course, a gazillion dollars. I don't get why there has to be a special edition each year. Why can't you sell the the colored plate and a thumb drive of the special stitches? Who's buying a $2-3k machine that can't take an embroidery module? Who's buying a $7k machine that still only has 8" of throat space? Who's buying $18k 7/8-series tanks for quilting or embroidery instead of a legit longarm or multi-needle embroidery? They're beautiful machines, and the mechanical parts are rock solid as they come, but look at the computerized electronics the wrong way......and they'll spend the entire 2 year (2!) electronic warranty in the shop.
Why do their customers need all these computerized features? Who's actually using them regularly? Their embroidery machines with seniors/retirees, and yes they are more comfortable using technology than in the past, but only for posting weird AI bullshit on facebook. How much use are all these design features getting?
I don't even get their entry-market Bernette line. The machines are similar to Brother, Janome, etc. but still waaaaay over priced. I don't know why they're pushing a Harry Potter-themed embroidery machine.
Welp, another one bites the dust
I was amazed when I watched her video uploaded today and I was so proud of her. She made a lining for the dress. She stitched alongside the bodice seams so they would lay flat. She even got the serger out and serged the fuckin lace edges so they wouldn't fray!!
I genuinely enjoy so many things about her content, but as so many people have expressed, watching her videos also stresses me the fuck out. It stresses me out to see someone so stressed out and not doing things that would ease that stress. It stresses me out to see someone work so hard on a garment that ends up looking like shit and being basically unwearable because she didn't take the extra time to go slowly, wash and press the fabric, to make sure the garment is fitting properly, and to just generally do the finishing work that would make it a much more quality garment.
Honestly, it's her channel, it's her life, she can do what she wants. Like I said, I genuinely enjoy so many things about her channel so I keep watching. I have other criticisms too, but I don't feel the need to get super involved with nitpicking her. I'm the one who chooses to watch her channel even when it stresses me out lol. And I choose to do so because there's something so specific to her channel that I love. I'm just really happy that she's taking this turn because I've just been begging her in my brain jelly to just please please please make things easier on herself.
She's been talking more and more lately about slowing down, about doing things that she loves, about being more conscious of waste, so it's nice to see that maybe she's going to start putting her money where her mouth is (so to speak). She also mentions in this video that it's a huge relief to be making only one garment for a video and just taking the time to make it more quality instead of trying to crash through multiple things that end up being garbage that she doesn't wear. Yes, girl, yes.
I hope things keep trending in this direction.
This time with a photo
I want to preface this by saying I have nothing against these people's bodies.
My boobs look like the person on the right. As a low hanging flabby boob haver (they have never been perky) the swimsuit looks incredibly uncomfortable. Swimsuit season coincides with boob sweat season. During warm days I actually try really hard ti avoid me tatas to lay flat on my torso because it enlarges the sweat region on my body 🥵
It also looks to me like if I move while wearing this my ladies will flop out. Nevermind swim!
If I wanted my girls out I would opt out of wearing a swimsuit altogether. Which to each their own. Quite normal here (EU)
In one of the other pictures the designer's nether region isn't really covered all the way.
This pattern is big skip for me this time around.
If I can be extra snarky for a minute: I hate the fabric choice in this photo specifically. Reminds me of a wintery shacket.
https://helensclosetpatterns.com/products/breakwater-swimsuit
Here's the thread where you can share any new patterns or products that you don't think deserve their own post. Any craft goes, whether you're sharing sewing patterns, weird yarn colourways, woodburning templates, soapmaking supplies, or any thing else that you'd like to discuss. If you think it deserves it's own thread, feel free to make one!
It isn’t any surprise to me that they are MAGAts, but yesterday they decided to tell us where they stand.
There’s a few small fiber artists and makers in the comments and likes too if you need to add anyone to your list.
I know that Etsy is full of ai slop, and I thought that I’d be able to stay clear, but I’ve finally been duped. Admittedly, I didn’t check the whole shop prior to buying it, and only saw that one suggestion. But when I went to leave a review, it won’t let me leave one until 2027?? Should/how can I report this content??
i can't believe this girl have the nerve to charge for a pattern for a tube
