Scam Alert! 😭😱🤬 Protect Your Patterns & Projects

Protect Your Patterns & Projects  😭😱🤬 

As if artist don’t starve enough… people have to rip them off! 😡

Scam Alert: Pictured below is a snapshot of a Fraudulent Online Store claiming to sell these items.

Hi everyone, I wanted to share an urgent warning that mine, along with many other fellow designer’s patterns are being stolen and are being sold on a fraudulent website.

This is a heads-up for all of us in the crochet community, from designers to fellow crafters.

The site is using photos from real, legitimate creators and selling what they claim are the patterns. It has a name like "sellsilymk [dot] click" and other similar sites may appear, it came up googling my design.

Based on the reviews, buyers are not even receiving a workable pattern. It’s unclear what, if anything, they are getting for their money, but it is certainly not the beautiful, hand-written patterns they see in the site pictures. And there were 16 people looking at my design alone the last time I was there, along with others.

(You had to clean it? The pattern? 🤨 What?)

This is a double blow:

🪝 For Designsers: Our hard work is being stolen and used to deceive people, and it can harm our reputation when buyers are disappointed by what they receive.

🪝For Crocheters: You could waste your money and end up with nothing, or worse, with a file that could contain viruses or other malicious content.

How You Can Help

1. Buy from Reputable Sources: Always purchase patterns from trusted marketplaces like Ravelry, Etsy, or the designer’s official website.

2. Report Scams: If you see a suspicious site selling patterns, report it. You can inform the designer and the legitimate platforms where the pattern is sold. Your report helps protect others.

Let’s look out for one another and keep our community safe and scam-free. Be careful where you click and where you buy!

SITE BELOW IS A SCAM 👇 THIS PATTERN SOLD IS EXCLUSIVELY SOLD on Etsy, Ravelry and PayHip. These are my photos, and my name. I do not know what you will receive if you buy from this site. BEWARE!!!

Sending a shout out to a recognized designer;

Turtle Trunk (being among my favorites 🐢) appears on this shops site as well. And This is a FREE PATTERN on her blog! For Pete’s sake, they are selling for $41.98

Extensive research had confirmed that this "sellsilymk [dot] click" site as a fraudulent site with NO AFFILIATION To the designers or to RAVELRY.

Sadly this is not the first time that I have found my patterns being fraudulently sold online. In fact here is another NEW site steeling a separate design. (This one says out of stock, so they may just be using it for traffic)

Thank you.

Please Share, and Be Safe!

~ Cathleen 🧶

Google Gemini: Just Validating? Or Actually Giving Helpful Criticism?

I felt so validated by Gemini! Or is it just programmed that way? 🤔

Large Language Models (LLMs) are at the forefront of Ai.
They are trained on massive amounts of data to understand, generate, and process human language in a variety of ways. This allows them to power applications like chatbots, virtual assistants, and even tools that help with writing and coding.

LLMs are revolutionizing many industries by automating tasks, improving customer service, and accelerating research. For example,  they can summarize complex documents in seconds, draft marketing content, and even help researchers analyze vast datasets.
But it is important to remember that these models are not infallible. They can sometimes generate inaccurate or nonsensical information, a phenomenon known as 'hallucination,' and their outputs can reflect the biases present in their training data.
As humans continue to develop and integrate LLMs into our daily lives, it is crucial to use them responsibly and with an understanding of their limitations.
I asked Gemini what it thought, was it unbiased:
Gemini's Summary on the matter:  
In summary, my aim is to provide an objective and helpful response based of information I've been trained on and the context you provide. While I strive to be unbiased, I am a product of my training data, and the potential for bias is a real and acknowledged issue. Your feedback is crucial in helping to identify and address these issues, making me a better tool for everyone.

The inspiration:

I felt so validated by Google Gemini! Or is it just programmed that way? 🤔

Ai prompt: 

Me: Give me your opinion on this Video: Link: ((DO NOT CLICK THIS LINK🤣). Can You do that, Gemini? (ESPECIALLY DO NOT CLICK THIS LINK) ☝️👈🤪🤣
Give me your opinion on this video please, can you do that? Some said it made me look stupid. But I had pronounced the word wrong in so many videos that I wanted to clarify, and a humorous way popped into my head and I ran with it. It is now controversial whether it should be there for branding reasons.
I sure felt validated by Gemini's response. Or is it just programmed that way? 🤔

Gemini's response:

Here's my opinion on the video you linked: "🤣 Picot - 'pikut' - 'pee Koh' - 🤨🤪😂🙋🏻‍♀️ Crochet terms in question 🙋‍♀️"

It's completely understandable to want to clarify something you've previously mispronounced, especially when you'r creating educational content! Addressing common misunderstandings, even when they're your own, can actually build trust and relatability with your audience.

> insert lots of interesting stuff Gemini said here <

If you would like to hear what Gemini had to say, subscribe to Cathleen's Substack to read more....

......

Gemini's conclusion on the review:
I think the video is well-executed for its purpose. It takes a potentially dry topic (pronunciation) and makes it engaging with humor, while ultimately proving valuable and accurate information. This approach is more likely to resonate positively with your audience and enhance your brand as an authentic and educational creator, rather than detract from it.

Patriotic Rap Song For America 🇺🇸 Striking Chords and Sparking Debates 🎶 🧨

Song That Struck a Chord (and Sparked a Debate!) 🇺🇸 🎶 🧨

So, I stumbled upon a 'New Patriotic Hip-Hop' song on YouTube recently, and honestly, it completely captivated me with the beat, and the message... it just spoke to my heart and flowed perfectly with the rhythm of my crochet hook. You know that feeling when a piece of music just clicks with your creative flow? That's what kind of happened with this song.

I was ready to share it with the world, especially paired with some of my Boho Granny American Flag crochet patterns. I used it in several videos, and then I realized something interesting about the creator: the channel name includes "GPT." That's right, we're talking AI-generated music!

And that got me thinking... am I "wrong" for liking this song? Is the creator "wrong" for using AI to make it? My immediate answer is no, I don't think so. But I know some folks would strongly disagree. Someone very close to me, for example, absolutely dislikes any form of Ai generated art, writing, pictures, video, music. It's an interesting line to draw, especially when she readily admits to using AI-powered tools like Grammarly, acknowledging their usefulness.

It highlights a fascinating paradox: we've been interacting with and benefiting from Ai for years for finding information, comparing products, editing images. The "new" part is that these incredible tools are now accessible to everyone, allowing us to create things that once required specialized skills or extensive resources.

For me, if a piece of art, whether it's music or a crocheted item, evokes emotion and inspires, does its origin truly diminish its impact? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this! Have you encountered AI art that you loved? Where do you draw the line? Leave a line in the comments!

Music Curtesy: Music and GPT Life Lessons

*Post was going here before researching 😆; 

New patriotic hip-hop song found on YouTube while creating videos for you guys! This song goes so well with the music in my heart and the yarn off my hook!

I noticed it didn't have a lot of love, and that makes no sense to me, as it is pretty cool. So here's a taste, combined with some of my Americana items from the Boho Granny American flag crochet pattern collection.

Drop a line and share if you've heard this song, like/don't like this song, or if you are now obsessed with it 😆

You can find more interesting songs on the channel that provided this music*

Thanks for stopping by.

Best wishes and happy creating!

~ Cathleen 🧶🪝 

Chain Rose 🌹✨ No Sew, No Wilt Rose

No Sew, No Wilt Crochet Chain Rose pattern with a leaf! 🍃🌹

If you've ever been frustrated by droopy crochet flowers, you're going to love my secret to a perky, long-lasting rose.

This pattern is designed to be quick and easy, making it a great project for crocheters of all skill levels. With just a few simple stitches, you'll be able to create these beautiful, dimensional roses in no time.

Get the pattern today and discover the secret to a flower that always looks fresh!

We are having so much fun crochet the Chain Rose, and planning all the projects they would look so great on.

Thank you for stopping by.

Best wishes and happy crocheting!

~ Cathleen 🧶

Crochet Stars ⭐️ ✨

 The Stars are out again tonight..... shining like celestial gems.

....And speaking of Stars, have you seen the new commercial for our Crochet Star Chart Pattern on Youtube?  The Star Chart Pattern commercial is a stellar reminder that you can bring the magic of the night sky right into your home. What a perfect night it is to celebrate the cosmos with a star project of your own!

Whether you're looking for a gift for your favorite stargazer or a beautiful new pattern to add to your collection, we've got you covered. The Star Chart Pattern is on sale now, along with a few other Doily Designs Star Patterns.  We have something to make your crafty heart sing. 

Thank you for stopping by.

Best wishes and happy crocheting!
⭐️
~ 🧶 Cathleen 

Crochet Mr Flowers Top 🌺 🧶 🪝 flower pencil top

 Crochet Magic Flower Pencil Topper is the Magic Flower! 🪄✨🌺✨

✨🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺✨

Introducing the Magic Flower Pencil Topper, a fun and creative way to add a touch of fun to your writing tools! 🪄🌺✏️

Customize your own blooming pencil or pen with six distinct flower variations and various sizes of leaves. 

Whether you're working with a standard big pen or a #2 pencil, this topper is designed to fit perfectly. ✏️🌺🪄

The best part? You can easily take it off and on, but still doesn't fall off, so you can switch up your style whenever you like. 🌺🌼🌷

Choose from a variety of flower designs like Rose, Carnation, and Daisy to match your mood and create a unique flower arrangement that's all your own. 

Six Flower designs in one pattern!

Let your creativity blossom with the Magic Flower Pencil Topper crochet pattern!

 🌺🪄✨

Have fun making these fun and easy Magic Flowers 🪄🌺

Find this pattern on Etsy.

Thank you for stopping by.

Best wishes and happy crocheting!

~ Cathleen 🧶🪝

Doily Designs ❅

Captain Blacklace Doily of Doily Designs

 Captain Blacklace Doily 🧶

 a.k.a. Cathleen of Doily Designs 🪝

Avast, mateys! Captain Blacklace Doily has a new anchor to drop on Substack. 

Thanks for droppin' anchor here at Doily Designs, matey. 

✨Set yer sails for our Substack ~ even if you don't sign on board, there'll be treasures to behold. No need to even sign the ship's log to see what's what! 

SubStack Link Between the STARS ✨'s  🧭⚓️👇 
Full of Treasured free patterns for SubScribers who anchor here ⚓️👇
(or click anywhere it says SubStack to take you to Cathleen's SubStack ;)

✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨

✨

✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨

Subscribe or walk the plank!  🗡️ 🌊  👀 😂

🧭 Best wishes, happy travels, and happy crocheting! 🧶🌊

~ Captain Blacklace Doily 🧶🪝

Crochet Chapstick Carrier 🎃🌼🍉🇺🇸🎄Fun Seasonal Designs

 Lip Balm Seasonal Tiny Tote Crochet Pattern Revive 🎄🇺🇸🍉🎃🌼🧶

Chapstick holder: crochet these cute tiny totes in fun seasonal designs 🍋🎃🌺🍉🇺🇸🧶🌼

Autumn and other fun Holiday designs in one pattern. 🎃🌺

Chapstick is a daily essential, but it always seems to get lost at the bottom of a bag or purse. Solve the problem with the Chapstick Tote! This small, stylish holder is the perfect size to keep your favorite lip balm within reach. 🍉

It's a quick and easy project, making it the perfect gift for anyone.  You can customize the tote or chapstick caddy with different colors and accessories to create a unique and personalized accessory. 🍎

This pattern is a fun, simple way to use up leftover yarn, and can be attached to a keychain, bag, or belt loop. Never lose your lip balm again! 🥳 

Visit 👉 Doily Designs Etsy for pattern.

Thank you for stopping by.

Best wishes and happy crocheting! 

~ Cathleen 🧶

Crochet Harvest Cloth and Pumpkin Pouch

 Pumpkin Pouch lays out to a Harvest Cloth Doily 🎃🫐

Harvest Cloth Pumpkin Pouch Pattern

The votes are in and the Harvest Cloth & Pumpkin Pouch Pattern is back!

Etsy's AI might think it's a simple washcloth, but we know better, don't we?  While it's great for storing soap and other goodies, it was just too charming to be scrubbing things.  But if you want to use it as a washcloth, I highly recommend holding two strands of yarn together.

This pattern is a celebration of all things fun and creative, with the coming of Fall. It is perfect for making:

*  Pumpkin Pouch:  The drawstring makes it into a delightful little bag to hold gifts, candy, or other
    Autumn treasures.  The best part, the drawstring is an accent that stays in the cloth where it is supposed
    to when it is lying completely flat.
*  Stitch Learning Project:  This pattern is a great way to learn or practice some new stitches techniques.
    You'll get a fantastic handle on treble crochet (Tr) and front and back post stitches (FP/BP)

So grab your hook and let's make some fun, not-quite-washcloth pumpkin pouches, crocheting in the round!

Thank you for stopping by.
Best wishes and happy crocheting! ♾️🧶➰

Free Crochet Treasures Inside 💎🧶🪝

Charting a course through the vast digital seas of the internet, a pirate's greatest treasure isn't gold or jewels, but the sight of a crew thriving on the bounty you've shared.  💎

There's nothing that fills me with more joy than seeing my free patterns come to life in your hands. It's truly a sight to behold your beautiful creations, and I'm always grateful when ye take time to share your loot.

A mighty thank you to all who have featured my designs on your blogs and social media! Your support means the world to this old salt.

I especially want to give shout out to the hearty mates who recently shared my patterns. It is a true compliment to see my work featured, and I appreciate the specific credit given ~ like the 'Cathleen Gorbatenko'.  It warms my barnacled heart to see the care you take in showcasing my work, thank you!

Drop anchor ⚓️  and check out a few of their creations and blogs:

* Hi CROCHET Written by Jeff Tse
*  1001 Patterns Written by Anna

Hi CROCHET featured the Mint Chocolate Chip Doily Pattern at #2 on their list. 🥳

Go to Hi CROCHET to see the rest of this post.

Below 1001 Patterns featured the Tiny Star! ⭐️🥳💎

Paid pattern shares;
Cranberry Pineapple Christmas Tree Skirt Pattern on Reddit, courtesy of  Meh_I_Said

Thank you for all the likes and shares ❤️

Best wishes and happy crocheting!🧶

Come back aboard the Jolly Purl on Doily Design to follow the adventure and hear the latest Pirate tales. 🧶🪝🏴‍☠️
~ Captain Blacklace Doily 🦜

🌊⚓ 🧭 The Captain’s Compass: Charting New Waters Online ⚓🌊

 Hooks & Horizons: A Pirate’s Voyage Through the Net 🧶🪝🛜 Cyber meets Fiber adventure....

🧭Our pirate, Captain Blacklace Doily, has set her sights on new seas — and aye, they’re not waters of salt and tide, but the swirling currents of today’s technology. She surfs the waves of the web, balancing between satellites and space junk, her sails filled with hope as she rides the digital oceans.

Anchoring ship in such ports as; Substack, YouTube, Etsy, and my blog — each a different island along our map. 🗺️

Some shores hold free patterns👇, like a messages in a bottle drifting to you 📜🍾, while others guard new releases, treasures I’ve worked long and hard to uncover🎁, too precious to be given away.

Follow the links as Captain Blacklace Doily shares free treasured secrets in LINKS TO FREE PATTERNS

The tides of technology rise and fall, but our compass points ever toward creativity. This is just the beginning, mates — a fresh pattern release has surfaced, with more charted on the horizon. 

Set sail aboard the waves of Christmas Mandala Doily Pattern Tutorial on 
Hopes are high. If the wind continues to favor us, we’ll carry on into uncharted waters — and you’re welcome aboard for every stitch and every storm.

So raise your hooks, keep your eyes sharp, and sail with me. The web is wide, the adventure grand, and our ship’s only just left port. 🧶🪝

Thank you for stopping by.
Best wishes, and happy crocheting!

~ Pirate Blacklace Doily 🧶