Thieves on ETSY + AI Generated Patterns

I’ve been making and sharing embroidery patterns for many years now, and one of the things I love most about this work is seeing an idea that started quietly at my desk come to life in someone else’s hands. So it’s difficult to write this post.

Since November 2024, my designs for the Embroidered Christmas Heart Ornaments (DIY embroidery project) have been stolen and sold without my permission.

Scope of the theft

It’s not just the artwork. Thieves have taken my photos, step-by-step videos, written instructions, and even 5-star Etsy reviews with customers’ photos — all to build trust with unsuspecting buyers.

How the scam works

• A few factories (mostly in China) scrape my content and create illegal kits using my designs.
• These kits are then listed on B2B platforms like Alibaba, often bundled with “advertising packs” to make it easy for resellers to market them.
• Retail resellers worldwide buy these kits and heavily promote them on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest.
• Finally, they sell them on Shein, Temu, Walmart, Amazon, Etsy (yes, even Etsy!), and many independent online shops.

AI in the Hands of the Wrong Values

Before a month ago, the thieves were using my own images and videos in their listings. Now, some of the more persistent but sly thieves have found a way to use AI in their scam. They take my photos as reference and use AI tools to regenerate images of my ornaments — the same concept, the same idea of hands holding the heart, the cozy backgrounds I styled — but fake.

They use these AI-made images to lure buyers into believing the listing is fresh and authentic, while in reality the kits still contain cheap supplies and even my stolen PDF guide.

Key signals of a stolen listing

I’m not the only creator affected by this, it’s happening across many craft niches, from knitting to crocheting, sewing, and beyond. So please be careful if you’re searching for a meaningful DIY project. If you notice these signs, the listing is likely not genuine:

• The seller has only been on Etsy for a short time but is already offering hundreds of embroidery patterns. No genuine creator can produce that volume in such little time. (For perspective, I’ve created about 100 patterns over 4 years, following a demanding schedule of releasing one every two weeks. And that included not only the designs and photos, but also the instructions and video tutorials. It was both challenging and, at times, exhausting.)
• Listings that look eerily like my photos, i.e. ornaments held in hands, cozy vibes set up for individual ornaments, or multiple like in the picture with ornaments in the box.
• If you take a closer look at the images, you’ll notice stitches that don’t look real — some details appear messy, and others even change from one picture to the next.
• Process photos that are directly mine.
• Factory photos of the kits look completely off-brand, and in some cases, you can even spot pages from my own PDF instructions inside.
• It is unlikely that a small genuine creator would sell their hard-worked products on Shein, Temu, Walmart, or Amazon. Usually, we have one or two shops — not hundreds!

My official sales channel

I currently sell exclusively on Etsy, under my brand name @whyknotstitches. Anything you see elsewhere using my designs is not authorized.

That said, I am rethinking my presence on Etsy, as the platform no longer aligns with my values. When I find a better solution to serve you, I will share it with you on my social media, inside our community, and through my newsletter.

For transparency, I reported the stolen listings to Etsy last Friday, but no action has been taken yet.

My cry for help

I need your help. There are at least two Etsy shops reselling my stolen designs (and they seem to be run by the same person). Please:

1. Go to these shops and report the listings with my Christmas Heart Ornaments to Etsy.

2. When you see ads on social media, if the comment section is open, leave a comment like:

   “These designs are stolen. The real creator is @whyknotstitches.”

This helps raise awareness and prevents others from falling into the trap. It also means people can support me directly — the original creator — so I can continue making new and beautiful embroidery projects.

How to report on Etsy

• Go to the listing page and scroll down to “Report this item to Etsy” (you’ll usually see it under the product details).
• Choose the option: “I don’t think it meets Etsy’s policies.”
• Then select the last choice: “It violates a policy that’s not listed here” and click Next.
• In the text box, write: “This listing violates @whyknotstitches copyrights.”
• Finally, hit Submit Report.

Every single report helps. The more we raise our voices together, the more we can protect creative work and make a difference.