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AI Crochet Images and Patterns

 The Rise of AI in the Art World What do you think of this image? It's very pretty at first glance, isn't it? Does it make you immediately want to seek out the pattern to make them yourself? You're not alone. I took this image from a random page on Facebook that showed up on my newsfeed. I have no idea who originally made it. It's being shared by pages that appear to be run by bots, as the caption is always the exact same.  So What's the Problem? The problem is these crochet parrots are not real. That is not real crochet. The photo is generated by AI. How can you tell? Firstly, they are too perfect. Creating crochet birds that could sit like that on a perch without falling over would be challenging. The direction of some of the stitches doesn't make sense. If you zoom in, you can see the stitches on the head especially do not look like crochet stitches. The yellow feathers on the left bird's head look like real feathers, which you wouldn't be able to rep...
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Let's Talk About Yarn Types - Part 2 - Acrylic Yarn

 Let's Talk About Acrylic Yarn

Welcome back! Today we're going to talk about acrylic yarn. It's one that is quite divisive in the fibre arts community, and often looked down upon. I like it and use it a lot, for a lot of different projects. Like all yarns, acrylic has its pros and cons. It is cheap though, and I do recommend it for beginners who are just learning to knit or crochet, as it is quite forgiving compared to other yarns. So let's get into it.

What is Acrylic Yarn?

Acrylic yarn is a fibre made from polyacrylonitrile. It is derived from petroleum, and was first manufactured in 1941. It is an alternative to real wool and does feel a lot like it. It is lightweight, soft and makes for warm clothing. It can also be made to mimic other yarn types. It dyes really well so acrylic yarn comes in just about any colour you can think of and can be very bold and vibrant. It is a very resilient fibre.

Pros of Acrylic Yarn

Cost: acrylic yarn is often a lot cheaper than natural wool yarns. This makes it ideal for projects on a budget or for beginners who are trying out knitting or crochet, as it means you aren't spending a fortune on fancy yarn until you are confident. 

Resilience: acrylic yarn is very resilient. It washes well, even in the washing machine, it doesn't felt like wool and is more heat resistant. Moth larvae can't digest it, so there's no need for the stinky moth balls when you use acrylic yarn. 

Versatile: acrylic yarn can be used to make just about anything, clothing, accessories, decor, toys, blankets, basically anything you can possibly think of.

Appearance: acrylic yarn dyes well so it is possible to have a huge range of colours and it doesn't really fade much even after a lot of washing. 

Allergies: as a synthetic fibre, it is much more hypoallergenic and therefore suitable for people who have allergies to wool. 

Cons of Acrylic Yarn

Flammability: acrylic yarn is more flammable than natural fibre and burns faster which can be a risk for blankets and clothing for children.

Breathability: fabric made with acrylic yarn is less breathable and locks in warmth, which can be desirable for winter clothing, but less so for making comfortable summer clothing items. 

Pilling: acrylic tends to pill quite easily and become fuzzy, although there are versions that are low-pilling, but this might be undesirable to some people.

Microplastics: there is evidence that acrylic materials do shed microplastics when being washed which is an environmental concern. 

What to Use it For?

The short answer is anything! Acrylic yarn comes in different weights and is available in a huge range of colours. The hardwearing fibre makes it suitable for just about any project you want to make. I like to use it for blankets, for wearable accessories and decorative items like cushions. I've always preferred it for my Cats costumes for knitting the leg and arm warmers. It stands up to the rough treatment of cosplaying, crawling around on the floor and climbing things! It's also good that it's washable, as this prolongs the life of my costumes. 

A good project for acrylic yarn is the granny square. Changing colours every round will give you a bold and colourful project. I have a multicoloured large granny square blanket that my mum made when I was a baby and I still have it in my mid thirties! I've got a tutorial on YouTube to teach you how to make a granny square. It's a great project for beginners. I'll link it below.



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