Episode 14 - Hacking Dog Wear with AI: What Worked What Failed and Why You Matter More Than Ever

Episode Air Date: July 1, 2025

Runtime: 14:35

✨ Episode Summary

Can AI really design functional dog wear? This week, I put that question to the test by asking Stitch—my AI assistant—to help redesign my Cozy Coat pattern. What followed was a mix of frustration, misfires, and surprising breakthroughs.

In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of that experiment. You’ll hear exactly what prompts I gave, what visuals I supplied, and why Stitch kept defaulting to human fashion logic (spoiler: dog wear isn’t part of most AI training data).

I’ll walk you through the steps I had to take—from sketching designs by hand to labelling each part clearly—just to get a usable result.

You’ll also learn: 

Whether you're just starting to sew for your dog or you’re already hacking your own patterns, this episode will show you how to use AI as a creative tool—without losing sight of your own vision.

🕒 Episode Highlights

Here are a few key moments from this episode:
00:00 – Hook: The AI Design Temptation 
A look at the hype around AI design and why it sparked curiosity to test it on dog wear.
 01:10 – Intro: Who I Am and What This Podcast Is Really About 
A reminder that this isn’t about shortcuts—it’s about becoming a confident designer.  
02:05 – Part 1: Real Experiment with Stitch and the Cozy Coat 
What I gave Stitch, what I got back, and why sketches and specifics still matter.  
06:10 – Part 2: The Most Hilarious Failures 
Bomber jackets, mislabelled belly bands, and why AI just doesn’t understand dogs (yet).  
08:15 – Part 3: What Actually Helped Once I Stepped In 
Colourways, style prompts, and the ways AI supported—not led—my design process.  
10:00 – Part 4: Sketching and Measuring as Your Real Power Tools 
Why every design starts with fit, and how my free templates help you get there.  
12:00 – Final Insight: Human Fashion vs. Dog Wear Reality 
Why Stitch defaulted to human logic and what that means for new dog wear designers.  
13:45 – Wrap-Up: What This Means for You 
Encouragement to try AI with support and creativity—and what’s coming in Hack Your Pattern.

🧵 What You’ll Learn

📥 Ready to Take the Next Step?

If today’s episode got your wheels turning and you’re ready to start sketching your own ideas—or even guiding AI tools with more confidence—grab the free Dog Coat Sketch Templates to get your ideas on paper. And if fit still feels like a mystery, the 4-Step Measuring Workbook will walk you through the basics so you can start designing with real measurements. You don’t need to be a tech expert or a fashion pro—you just need a plan and a little support. That’s what I’m here for.

📥 Download the Dog Coat Sketch Templates (Free)
📥 Get the 4-Step Measuring Workbook  
🎓 Coming Soon: Hack Your Pattern Course
Want help learning to sketch your own designs, prompt AI tools, and think like a pattern hacker? The Hack Your Pattern course is built to guide you from blank page to original dog wear design—no fashion school required.

💬 Got Questions or Feedback?

If something in today’s episode resonated with you—or brought up a question you’ve been holding—I’d love to hear from you.

DM me anytime over on Instagram @thankdogwemadeit, or come join the conversation inside the Creative Circle. This is exactly the kind of stuff we talk about together.

You can also comment, rate, or follow the podcast here:
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You don’t have to do this alone—and you’re definitely not the only one feeling it.