Spotting Fake Etsy Sewing Pattern Sellers: A Guide

We all know the ‘big four’ sewing pattern brands, but through the magic of the internet, there’s never been greater access to a wider range of smaller or indie pattern brands, with sites such as Etsy having thousands of digital listings for all sorts of sewing patterns. However, after a few minutes on Etsy, you will start to notice hundreds, if not thousands, of digital patterns listed, some for just a few dollars. The real question is: are these patterns from a real pattern maker, or are they just AI-generated scams trying to make a quick buck?

To save you from potentially being scammed by fake sewing patterns, after trying out a few Etsy patterns myself, I have created a checklist to help you determine if the sewing pattern listing is real or fake/an ai generated scam. This checklist will covered everything you need to know before buying that Etsy sewing pattern.

Checklist for Etsy Disgital Sewing Patterns;

What to Check on an Etsy Listing:

-Always read the description; they say the devil is in the details so make sure you expand the descriptions menu on any Etsy listing you look at. Etsy automatically collapses their description menu so it’s something worth looking into.
-Check for specific fabric recommendations and avoid terms such as “cotton blends” as this is too general and a little lazy (also a sign it was written by AI). If there is no helpful information, try to look for fabric weight, drape and stretch information.
-The description should also include how much fabric is needed to complete the garment (for all sizes) as well as list any additions or notions that may be needed. This information should be available before purchasing anything.
-The pattern should come with instructions. Its strange that this has to be mentioned, but some digital sewing patterns will not include instructions, seam allowances and even skip steps at times. Your pattern should be inclusive of these things.
-Is the listing in the same language? Etsy has the ability to translate text so make sure that the language is consistent throughout the listing and product. You don’t want to buy a new pattern only to have to learn a new language to make it. It might also be worth translating a few reviews.
–Disclaimers included: because the rise of AI patterns has gotten so out of hand, some legitimate companies are now adding a disclaimer to their listings stating that they were made without AI or automation.

-Size Matters: look at the sizing guide for all digital sewing patterns. There minimum should be sizes for bust, waist and hips and the sizes should come in a wide range. Always check the patterns sizing instead of going by your normal store bought sizes as sewing patterns don’t follow normal sizing guidelines.

Reviews: It’s always worth checking out any reviews you can find (even just for the company in general if you can’t find reviews on a specific pattern). Avoid reviews that only talk about how easy it was to download as these aren’t very helpful. Instead look for any reviews that mention fit, the sewing process, does the pattern have notches and thoughts from those who claim to have actually made the garment. Remember that reviews can be bought, so you can’t trust everything you read. Always check out negative reviews as well.

A Picture is worth a thousand words:

It’s too easy to generate an image using AI, so it’ll take a little bit of sleuthing to make sure your listing is legit.
-If the listing only has one photo of the garment complete; this could be a sign that the photo was stolen from another source as most legitimate businesses will have a few images of the pattern/garment they are trying to sell you.
-A digital rendering of the garment is not enough and should be approached with caution. There should be some form of photo to accompany the listing (or something on their social media).
–Stolen photos can also be a sign that no one has ever made the pattern before so it hasn’t been tested and might not even work.
–Keep an eye on seams in the photos: a real pattern company will have photos where you can see all seams in the garment and they should line up. AI isn’t this detail orientated so it’s a good catch. Keep an eye out for hands and the way the garment is depicted on the model as AI can’t always get these details right.
-If the model is headless this could also be a sign that the image was stolen from another source such as a retail site.
–Multiple models – it’s generally uncommon for sewing pattern listings to have multiple models for just one pattern (especially in various beautiful locations). It is likely that these photos came from a retail site and are stolen or generated instead of from a legitimate business.
-If there are too many ‘perfect models’ – most small/indie companies will model their own garments or get friends, family or smaller models to pose for them. It’s not common for sewing pattern companies to have multiple over edited/stunning models in exotic locations for just a sewing pattern. There should be a range of people, bodies sizes, colours and shapes. The models should look like real people.
-A legitimate digital sewing pattern listing will have at least the front and back of the garment sewn up for you to see the fit. If the garment pictured is ill fitting on the model/listing images, there’s a chance that it will not fit you well either or the seller has no idea how to write instructions that will help a sewist complete a high quality garment. A real pattern maker knows how to write pattern instructions and how to complete a quality garment.

-Digital sewing patterns should include a front and back line drawing of the garment. These illustrations are designed so that even if the photos of the garment cover up details such as seams due to the model posing or dark/busy fabric, the customer can get a full idea of the pattern they are buying. Always check if the line drawing of the garment matches any photos they include as this could be a sign of stolen or generated images.
-To further add to this, always make sure to see if the line drawings actually match up with the images shown on the listing. Is there the same amount of seams in both? Does one have darts and the other princess seams?

Bargain or bust? It’s common to see, especially on Etsy, that some sellers have huge sales where some of their patterns are reduced down to just a few dollars. Although sales and savings can be done legitimately, most AI pattern makers will just be happy to grab a few dollars off you instead of trying to get you to buy a more expensive pattern.

Who is actually selling to you?

If you’re still unsure if your digital sewing pattern is legitimate or not, check out the company that’s selling the pattern to you.
-Check to see if the sewing pattern company has their own website or any social media. In today’s day and age, it’s pretty normal for companies to have some sort of social media presence so it’s a good give away when they don’t. Check out social media to see what people are saying in comments and to see what kind of photos they are posting (they shouldn’t all be perfect ai style images and somewhere normally they would include images of their garments from customers).
-Check for Facebook groups, youtube videos or search a few hashtags to see what is linked to the company you are considering buying from. It’s getting more and more common for digital sewing patterns/companies to have their own facebook groups and pattern sew-along’s and they shouldn’t be too difficult to find.
-Is there mention of the company having some sort of professional training or education when it comes to pattern construction? Although being self-taught (like myself) is completely fine, mentions of some form of professional training can also be helpful.
–Legitimate sewing pattern companies are often really proud of their work and will often openly share their stories, their education, their sizing block, their pattern testing methods and more. You can always tell when a pattern maker cares about the garment you want to make.
-Some indie pattern companies offer a free simple pattern for you to test their pattern, instructions and sizing. This is super helpful when wanting to try a new company.

My final piece of advice in spotting a cheaply made or AI generated sewing pattern, is by contacting the seller and asking a technical question. Etsy always has a ‘contact seller’ button on each listing and you should feel free to message and ask a technical question or a specific question to that pattern (eg. questions about notions, facing or lining can always help point out if a seller is legit. A legitimate pattern maker will be able to answer all technical questions and should know what they are doing. If you are unsatisfied by the answer you receive then avoid the seller.

Although this list is aimed at helping you figure out if your Etsy sewing pattern is made by a professional or not, there are still some factors to consider. Not all sewing patterns are made equally, so a legitimate pattern maker could just be new, inexperienced or trying to cut corners to save money and raise some of the red flags listed above. I do plan on writing a post about why some Etsy patterns are so cheap, but that’s a post for another time. There might be nothing wrong with buying a pattern from a brand new pattern maker, but keep in mind that some people will just want to make a quick buck and have no interest in sewing at all (these issues are just as rife in other small hobby communities such as crochet, knitting and embroidery).

Shopping for digital sewing patterns, especially on Etsy, has recently become quite the struggle as the market is now flooded with cheaply made patterns where the seller has no interest in your sewing experience. There are so many listings that it’s not always easy to spot the fakes and AI patterns, so I hope this list gives you a comprehensive guide for your shopping experience.

Please Note: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions and thoughts expressed are solely my own and not influenced in any way. This page contains affiliate links/codes which aids in funding future blog posts. Please don’t feel obliged to use any of my links if you don’t want to.