Getting Comfy w/AI

June 6, 2025

So AI is all the rage.  That's great, but just because it's the rage doesn't necessarily mean I'm all in favor of it.  In the 1980s, I couldn't wait to open up the magazine to see the latest fashions from Paris, Milan, London, New York and Tokyo.  Those fashions were beautiful and went from gorgeous to more gorgeous to most gorgeous.  I loved the 80s and couldn't wait to see more.  

From this....

to this...

Uh no!  This was not progress in my mind and never has been.  I never wore ripped jeans.  I never wore ripped t-shirts.  It wasn't that I was not willing to have change, it was simply that sewing and fashion were to flatter, not to look ugly.  

AI is the same for many people; some have even been scared to use it because they think it will do all the thinking for them.  It's much like the Texas Instruments invention in the 60s when people said we wouldn't know math anymore.  I still multiply and divide in my head, but use my calculator to check my decimal point or ensure I'm correct.  

The same is true of AI.  I use it today to help me get ideas for my clients that I could come up with, but would take me days or even weeks, when I can use AI to do this for me in minutes.  It's how the modern world works, and it's how I can use my time most efficiently.  

The secret to AI is all about the query.  When your query is astray, your result will be a mess.  And it takes a little time to get the right results for your search.   I had some problems at first and I'm still not proficient enough on ChapAI, but working on it.  

Here's how this goes.  This is a gorgeous piece of Gustav Klimt, "The Kiss" which is an exquisite piece and I've always loved this painting.  So it was clear that I could do something fun with this fabric, but sheesh the repeat is really difficult to think about when you're making a garment.  

So difficult  that I'm scare to cut into it.  I need to do a lot of work on this to make sure I'm doing the most exciting thing possible.  

Here are the qulities of the fabric that I need to consider in a design

• It's incredibly dynamic so the design has to be simple otherwise there's a terrible conflict between the strong fabric and a strong design.
• At the same time, a whimpy, frilly design isn't even close to working, because the design has to be able to stand up but not conflict with the fabric.
• The repeat piece is all in "The Kiss" part of the fabric while the rest of the design is clearly background
• How to make the balance and "kiss" part balanced with the rest of the design.

This is the original painting.  The couple is the strong part, with the couple's cloak/robe, garden, and background are there to complement the "kiss" part.  They are so understated that they are boring alone.  So there are two strong parts - a strong focal point and an equally strong boring part.  

And the way the fabric is laid out can mean some problems in cutting this out.  Usually a strong piece like this Is printed in the middle.  Remember this project from last year....

The cowl is a home run, the silhouette is not.  So let's change that.

Nice silhouette and something that I can see easily as this is the silhouette of my core pattern.  So this is a possible solution.  

This might be better if I were into denim, but I never have been cause blue isn't for me.  An olive or green denim, maybe, but not blue.  Besides I have another idea for denim, in another newsletter.    Back to my current exploration.  

Here's the result for a bomber jacket and look at that black accent.  This is as exciting as the silhouette, and I need to figure out how to do a black accent on this piece cause it really pops.  

Not everything pops, and this has some interesting possibilities, but requires a LOT of work to make this be as exciting as the cowl and the black above.

Not all ideas are workable.  This is not my look, even though it fits all the perimeters - solid, classic design to show off the fabric and not conflict with it.

Like I say - not everything sends me, but I keep trying.  

Whoa - another home run.  

I can see this with a great black zipper with gold metal zipper from Pacific Trimming on Etsy, here and here.  

This is another project made up in my head before I've even touched the scissors.  

The point here is that AI can help us decide what to do with that piece of fabric in our stash that we are saving for something fabulous. Only the ideas exist. Not anymore.  

I must thank @intostitches for her post on Instagram with some great ideas for getting to the design you want to do.  Check it out here.  She's having good luck with ChatAI, and I'm anxious to see her results.  

This is, to me, the purpose of AI.  Sooner or later, we would have come up with the design that we would like with this fabric, but with AI, it comes much faster.  It's a time-saver.  Anything like this that allows us to save our time is entirely worth the effort.  

I don't see AI as a threat, as 1.) we have to learn how to make that query, and for that matter, how to refine the query to get to what we want,  2.) AI can't think for itself, and won't replace humans, although it can make us lazy, but for we creative people, I don't see that as a threat to us, and finally, 3.) it requires an immense amount of energy.  I like the invention of the transistor radio.  The tiny little thing that you could plop into your purse and have music everywhere, because of the size of the radio.  That energy that AI requires will be the next challenge.

In the meantime, get on an AI of your choice, Grok, Copilot, ChatAI, or your favorite AI chat.  And let me hear from you - you're successes and failures.  We can all learn from this, but I'm excited about spending more time sewing and less time consternating over my fav stash fabrics!  

The SewingArtistry Resource Library is designed to contain information to not only make your sewing better, but to aid in you fitting and flattering your shape, size and style.  Check it out. 

Look for future classes coming in 2024
The Core Pattern Shirt, (one of my favorites for woven core pattern that you can make into a myriad of different garments), 
Basic Knit Top (core pattern class for knit basic tops, shells, tees, dresses, and tunics)
 

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