Are you feeling stuck in a rut? July is officially Anti-Boredom Month, and it’s the perfect excuse to shake things up, try something new, and bring a little joy back into your routine.
Whether you’re stuck inside because of the heat, on a long road trip, or just need a break from the usual screen time, here are some fun and creative ways to beat boredom this month:
🧶 Pick Up a New Craft Project Crochet lovers, this is your time to shine! Try out a new stitch, start a small summer-friendly project (like a cute amigurumi or cotton washcloth), or finally use that skein of yarn you’ve been saving for something special. Not a crocheter? Now’s the time to learn!
📚 Start a Crafty Book Club Combine your love of stories and stitches—listen to an audiobook while you crochet. Or host a weekly meet-up (in person or online) to discuss books and share what you’re making. Two birds, one cozy stone.
🎲 Play with Patterns Challenge yourself with a pattern swap! Pick a pattern completely outside your comfort zone or style. Love amigurumi? Try wearables. Usually stick to neutrals? Go neon! You never know what you’ll discover.
🖍️ Get the Kids Involved Keep little hands (and minds) busy with fun fiber crafts. Finger knitting, pom-pom making, or even letting them choose yarn colors for your next project can keep boredom at bay and create sweet memories.
🌟 Host a “Craft-ternoon” Invite a friend or two over for snacks and stitching. It doesn’t have to be fancy—just good company, creative hands, and maybe a few crochet puns (because we’re hooked on fun).
Remember: boredom isn’t a bad thing—it’s often the gateway to your next burst of creativity. So let’s turn “I’m bored” into “I made this!”
On this day in 2023 – Water Color Blog Hop
Arche de Fleurs Plant Holder from SaiASmi – Dreamz in Yarn –
I love my greenies. Waking up to see the green every morning is a serene experience. With this
pattern you can add a spot of color to your little green corner!
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The Truth Behind Those “Too Good to Be True” Crochet Photos: AI, Clickbait & What You Should Know
If you’ve ever been scrolling through social media and spotted a jaw-droppingly detailed crochet project — say, a life-sized dragon, hyper-realistic food, or a “crocheted” sculpture that looks more like CGI — you’re not alone. These images are everywhere lately, and sadly, many of them are fake.
Welcome to the world of AI-generated crochet photos being used as clickbait — and it’s creating confusion, frustration, and a lot of wasted time for crafters.
🤖 What’s Really Going On?
With the rise of powerful AI image tools, it’s easier than ever to generate a photo that looks like a beautifully crocheted item — even if it’s impossible to make with yarn and a hook.
Unfortunately, many of these images are:
Used to sell nonexistent patterns
Posted on clickbait blogs or videos to drive traffic
Shared widely without any indication that they’re fake
For someone new to crochet or looking for inspiration, this can be disheartening. You spend time searching for a pattern, only to realize it doesn’t exist… and never did.
🚩 Red Flags to Watch For
Not sure if what you’re seeing is real? Here are a few clues:
Stitches don’t look quite right — too uniform, blurry, or oddly shaped
Strange anatomy or design details — like ten fingers, tangled arms, or lumpy yarn “textures”
No actual photo credits or pattern source
Linked sites full of ads, pop-ups, or vague instructions
💡 What You Can Do
Stick with trusted designers and sources
Support real makers by buying from Etsy, Ravelry, or verified sites
Double-check before sharing – help others avoid the trap!
Call it out kindly – not everyone knows what to look for
🧶 Creativity, Not Clickbait
As makers, we love seeing the boundaries of crochet pushed — but let’s make sure it’s done honestly and respectfully. There are so many talented designers out there creating stunning, real patterns that deserve the spotlight.
So the next time you see an eye-popping crochet image that feels too perfect, take a closer look. It just might be AI in disguise.
AI should be used as a tool to help us grow in our crafts and careers — not as a shortcut for scammers to exploit. Whether it’s generating ideas, helping with pattern writing, or enhancing creativity, AI can be a wonderful aid. But when it’s used to mislead makers, sell fake patterns, or deceive supportive communities, it crosses a line. Let’s champion transparency, credit real creators, and use technology to uplift, not undermine, the handmade world we love.
Have you spotted fake crochet photos online? Let’s talk about it in the comments — and give a shout-out to your favorite real crochet creators!
Challenge Accepted!!
I decided to turn the tables on the AI-generated crochet images. There was an adorable cat crocheted into a craft basket that everyone loved! I thought, “I can do that,” so I did. This photo is the one that appeared on Facebook. I’ve omitted the links, because it’s clickbait.
And here’s my version of Kitty Caddy. Of course, it’s not as adorable as the AI, but crochet does have limits.
Rnd 1: With black yarn, ch 2 (or magic ring), 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook. Do not join. Work in continuous rnds throughout unless otherwise specified.
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st (12 sc).
Rnd 3: *Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st,* repeat around (18 sc).
Rnd 4: *Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st,* repeat around (24 sc).
Rnd 5: *Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st,* repeat around (30 sc).
Rnd 6: *Sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st,* repeat around (36 sc).
Rnd 7: Sc around: 18 black, 2 white, 16 black.
Rnd 8: Sc around: 18 black, 3 white, 15 black.
Rnd 9: Sc around: 18 black, 4 white, 14 black.
Rnd 10: Sc around: 18 black, 5 white, 13 black.
Rnd 11: Sc around: 18 black, 6 white, 12 black.
Rnd 12: Sc around: 18 black, 5 white, 13 black.
Rnd 13: Using black only, *inv dec, sc in next 4 sts,* repeat around (30 sc).
Rnd 14: *Inv dec, sc in next 3 sts,* repeat around (24 sc).
Rnd 15: *Inv dec, sc in next 2 sts,* repeat around (18 sc).
Rnd 16: With black yarn, *sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st,* repeat twice in black, once in white, twice in black (24 sc).
Rnd 17: With black yarn, *sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st,* repeat twice in black, once in white, twice in black (30 sc).
Rnd 18: Working with black yarn only, sc in next 15 sts, sc in BLO of next 5 sts, sc in both lps of next 10 sts (30 sc).
Rnds 19-24: With black only, sc in each st.
Rnd 25: *Inv dec, sc in next 3 sts,* repeat around (24 sc).
Insert eyes in Rnd 9, 2 sts away from white section. Stuff head.
Rnd 26: *Inv dec, sc in next 2 sts,* repeat around (18 sc).
Rnd 27: *Inv dec, sc in st,* repeat around (12 sc). Join with sl st. Fasten off yarn leaving 6” length. Close with ult fin.
Neck:
Row 1: Hold head so top of head is facing you. Attach white yarn in first lp of white sts in Rnd 18. Ch 1, sc in each st (5 sc).
Row 2: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st.
Rows 3-5: Ch 1, turn, dec over first 2 sts, sc across (2 sc at end of Row 5).
Row 6: Ch 1, turn, sc last 2 sc tog (1 sc). Fasten off leaving 9” length of white yarn for sewing.
Snout:
Rnd 1: With white yarn, ch 2 (or magic circle), 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook (6 sc). Do not join.
Rnd 2: *Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st,* repeat around (9 sc).
Rnd 3: *Sc in next 2 sts, sc in next st,* repeat around (12 sc).
Rnd 4: *Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st,* repeat around (18 sc). Join with sl st.
Insert safety nose into Rnd 1. Stuff lightly and sew snout to head at Rnds 10-15 of head.
Whiskers:
Cut 2 pieces of white yarn 4” long. Using one on each side of nose, double and pull through sts at side of nose. Trim to 1” length. Use needle to separate strands.
Body:
Rnd 1: With black yarn, ch 15, sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 12 ch, 3 sc in last ch. Working on opposite side of foundation ch, sc in next 12 ch, 2 sc in last ch (30 sc). Do not join. Work in continuous rnds throughout unless otherwise specified.
Rnd 2: 2 sc in first st, sc in next 12 sts, 2 sc in next 3 sts, sc in next 12 sts, 2 sc in next 2 sts (36 sc).
Rnd 3: *Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st*, sc in next 12 sts, * to * 3 times, sc in next 12 sts, * to * 2 times (42 sc).
Rnd 4: *Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st*, sc in next 12 sts, * to * 3 times, sc in next 12 sts, * to * 2 times (48 sc).
Rnd 5: *Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st*, sc in next 12 sts, * to * 3 times, sc in next 12 sts, * to * 2 times (54 sc).
Rnd 6: *Sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st*, sc in next 12 sts, * to * 3 times, sc in next 12 sts, * to * 2 times (60 sc).
Rnd 7: *Sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st*, sc in next 12 sts, * to * 3 times, sc in next 12 sts, * to * 2 times (66 sc).
Lay piece flat on felt and trace edges. Cut out felt oval and set aside.
Rnd 8: Working in BLO, sc in each st.
Rnds 9-14: Working in both lps, sc in each st. Join with sl st at end of Rnd 14. Fasten off black yarn.
Insert felt into bottom of cat, covering Rnd 7.
Insert head into front portion of body with white neck piece outside body. Sew in place firmly. Sew white neck piece on outside of body.
Ears: (Make 2)
Row 1: With white yarn, ch 4, sc in 2nd ch from hook and next 2 ch (3 sc).
Row 2: Ch 1, turn, dec, sc in next st (2 sc).
Row 3: Ch 1, turn, dec (1 sc). Fasten off white.
Repeat Rows 1-3 with black yarn.
Place white ear on top of black ear and sc through both thicknesses with black yarn. Sc in edges of Row 1 and Row 2, 3 sc in Row 3 (tip of ear), sc in edges of Row 2 and Row 1. Sl st in beg ch. Fasten off black. Sew ears to head at Rnds 2-5.
Legs: (Make 4)
Rnd 1: With white yarn, ch 2 (or magic ring), 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook. Do not join. Work in continuous rnds throughout unless otherwise specified.
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st (12 sc).
Rnd 3: *Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st,* repeat around (18 sc).
Rnd 3: *Sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st,* repeat around (21 sc).
Rnd 4: Inv dec 5 times, sc in next 11 sc (16 sc). Join with sl st. Fasten off white yarn.
Rnd 5: Attach black yarn, sc in each st. Do not join.
Rnds 7-13: Sc in each st. Join with sl st at end of Rnd 13. Fasten off black yarn leaving 12” length for sewing.
Remove outer piece of plastic from roller. Leave center rod in place to give kitty more support. Insert roller into leg.
Sew legs in place on bottom of body – two in front and two in back.
Tail:
Rnd 1: With white yarn, ch 2 (or magic ring), 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook. Do not join. Work in continuous rnds throughout.
Rnds 2-3: Sc in each st. Join with sl st at end of Rnd 3.
Rnd 4: Attach black yarn, sc in each st. Do not join.
Repeat Rnd 4 until tail measures 5: Join with sl st. Fasten off leaving 12” length for sewing.
Fold pipe cleaner to fit and insert into tail.
Sew tail to body Rnds 8-14 at back center. Bend to desired shape.
Basket:
Row 1: With tan yarn, ch 51, sc in 2nd ch from hook and next 49 ch (50 sc).
Rows 2-5: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st.
Row 6: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st with 3 sc in last st. Turn to work down the side, sc in each row end with 3 sc in last row end. Sc in each lp of foundation ch with 3 sc in last lp. Work up other side in sc with 2 sc in last row end. Join with sl st. Fasten off leaving 12” length for sewing.
Pin basket around cat body with top of basket at Rnd 13 of body. Sew edges of basket to body. Sew bottom row of basked to Rnd 9 of body. Leave top of basket free. Sew vertical lines on basket to divide into sections.
This post contains affiliate links. This means I may earn a commission should you chose to sign up for a program or make a purchase using my link. It’s okay – I love all of these companies anyways, and you will too!
40% off all ebooks and the Crochet Club Membership through 11/19/2025
I’m so proud to have my designs featured on Lion Brand Yarn Pattern Marketplace. Not only can you purchase great designs, but you can also purchase the yarn and supplies you need to make them.
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I decided to turn the tables on the AI-generated crochet images. There was an adorable cat crocheted into a craft basket that everyone loved! I thought, “I can do that,” so I did. This photo is the one that appeared on Facebook. I’ve omitted the links, because it’s clickbait.
