Inspiration
I was inspired to create this project because of my love for crochet and my participation in a sustainable crochet competition. The idea of using crochet, knitting, and embroidery to repair clothing really resonated with me, as it promotes sustainability and creativity. I wanted to create a platform where people could easily find inspiration for clothing repairs and learn how to apply these techniques themselves.
What it does
FixKnit is a web application that helps users find design inspiration for repairing their clothes using knitting, crochet, or embroidery. It leverages the Google Custom Search API to search Pinterest for relevant repair ideas, providing users with a curated collection of images and techniques. Additionally, the platform offers a repair page with tutorials and guides, enabling users to learn how to fix their own garments sustainably and creatively.
How we built it
We built FixKnit using React for the frontend, where users can interact with the app, search for inspiration, and explore repair tutorials. The backend is powered by Flask, which handles the server-side logic and connects to the Google Custom Search API for fetching images and repair ideas. We also used the Google Cloud Vision API to process images and provide more insights into the items being repaired. The frontend and backend communicate through API calls, enabling a seamless user experience.
Challenges we ran into
The biggest challenge I faced was navigating how to use both the Google Custom Search API and the Google Cloud Vision API for the first time. Integrating these APIs into the application involved understanding their authentication and how to structure the requests to get the desired results. Additionally, I had never used Flask before, so I had to learn how to set up a backend server and properly handle requests from the frontend.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
I am proud of successfully integrating both Google APIs into the application and learning how to use them effectively. I’m also proud of building a Flask backend from scratch, which was my first experience with it. FixKnit allows users to discover and learn sustainable clothing repairs, and I feel great about creating something that encourages creativity while also promoting environmental consciousness.
What we learned
I learned a lot about working with APIs, particularly the Google Custom Search API and Google Cloud Vision API. I also gained experience in using Flask to set up a backend server and handle API requests. Additionally, I learned about sustainable fashion and how small actions like clothing repairs can contribute to reducing waste.
What's next for FixKnit
In the future, we plan to expand FixKnit’s functionality by adding more repair tutorials, enabling users to upload their own images for personalized repair suggestions, and creating a community feature where users can share their own repair stories and tips. We also plan to integrate more APIs for better image recognition and repair advice, helping users get the most accurate and relevant results.## Inspiration
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