@gannet @FanCityKnits the only problem is that most of these tips require one to have already achieved expert status. For example, I've been crocheting for years, but I would be hard-pressed to estimate how much yarn of whatever weight a given project would require!
@akamran @FanCityKnits that’s a point. Foo
Jul 29, 2026, 8:22 PM@akamran @gannet @FanCityKnits
After reading it, as a knitter with very little experience, I feel like I can assess some of those, but only the more tangential ones. My takeaway is that if the images are overly perfect and the creator has very little online presence, I'm gonna take the listing to friends at the local fiber arts circle, and hope someone there has enough expertise to check some of the more concrete "this cannot work as described" problems.
I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have friends who are more experienced than me, though. It's reinforcing the importance of having direct connections to people.
@jsw @akamran @gannet @FanCityKnits couple more tips, check the copyright date on the pattern (if it’s visible). Old (pre-2020s) generally means human made. Also, search the pattern name online and see if other people have posted WIPs/FOs.
I feel really terrible for new crafters these days having to separate the slop from the real.
@akamran @gannet @FanCityKnits Toni made a video about that stolen pattern, with visual examples that are more obvious than just a description.
(And I made the original pattern! I learned that I hate linen stich but the result is stunning)