Sketches to Vector art with Illustrator AI Gen Tools

I utilized Adobe Illustrator's AI generation tools to turn hand drawn sketches into vector art graphics and to assist in generating ideas for cute animal characters for my punch needle sewing pouch project.

In Illustrator, I sketched a dog graphic using a wacom pen, then with the graphic selected, I entered a prompt instructing AI to create a black outline, kawaii style version of the dog using the dog sketch as an "reference image".

Then after a few iterations and manual edits to the vector artwork, I used the AI generated dog graphic to create a bird version.

I had to edit the vector artwork of the bird version. AI tends to add extra details when generating suggestions. It’s easy to clean the artwork up, change it to match the style I am going for, or use it for inspiration. I can continue on creating characters with the help of AI ad-infinitum or until my AI tokens run out.

To transfer the digital designs onto fabric, I exported each character to images and saved them to my phone. I then setup a tracing stand that uses a sheet of plastic to reflect the image on my phone onto a piece of fabric laid flat on a table. I trace the artwork by hand onto the fabric.

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Using the Illustrator file, I can try out different colorways before I pick my color yarn and go to work punch needling the designs onto the fabric.

My ultimate goal is create a set of sewing pouches where each pouch features a punch needle version of a character on the front, then sell them at a local craft fair or on etsy.