Introducing Some-Bunny to Love

I Asked AI to Write a Crochet Pattern

People always ask where an author gets her ideas.

This year, I tried to teach three people to crochet. I say “tried” because only two of them stuck with it. Still, the experience taught me more than it taught them. When you attempt to explain something you do instinctively, you’re forced to slow down and examine every step. Teaching, I’ve discovered, is the best way to learn.

You inspire me

My readers also shape my stories. One of you suggested I write a mystery where a crochet pattern hides a coded message. I haven’t managed that…yet. But the idea lingered.

As you can see from the cover of Purple, Blame, Game (Amazon/release June 2, 2026), a stuffed toy plays a role in the story. I have final say over my covers, so I don’t approve anything that misleads readers. If there’s a bunny on the cover, you can be sure it matters.

Which led to a dangerous thought: what if the book included the actual pattern for the bunny?

AI to the rescue!

I turned to AI and asked it to write crochet instructions.

Lo and behold, it did.

The instructions were technically sound. I could have stopped there. But it seemed only fair to test them before unleashing them on the world. So I made the bunny.

And then I started changing things.

Changes and refinements

I didn’t like the ears. AI’s version was fine — but I wanted posable ears. Slimmer than the limbs. A little more personality. So I reworked them. Then I ran my revised method back through AI and asked it to clarify the explanation. AI offered a few helpful tweaks. I adjusted those, too.

What emerged was a collaboration — part algorithm, part craft instinct.

You could wait until Purple, Blame, Game releases to get the pattern. But that might not leave you enough time to crochet one for some-bunny you love.

Get the pattern…

If you’d like the pattern now, comment BUNNY below and I’ll send it your way.

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Speaking of stories…

This Monday, March 2, at 7 p.m. ET, my Mystery Mondays guest is my longtime friend Mollie Ann Cox. Join us here: Joanna’s Readers.

You can preview our conversation on YouTube —

I hope you’ll join us live. I’ll be giving away a book or two — and knowing Mollie, she probably will as well.

Next Monday, March 9, at 7 p.m. ET, we welcome Chrissy Chicory of Velvet Teacup Society fame.

And one more recommendation: my friend Neil Plakcy’s Substack is worth your time. He’s smart, generous, and thoughtful — and that generosity shows up in his storytelling. You can read his latest post here:

Drowning Out Evil with Story

Stories matter. Craft matters. And sometimes even a bunny pattern can lead somewhere unexpected.

Lots of love…Joanna