5 Best Midjourney Prompts: October 2024 (Traditional Crafts)

Modifiers related to traditional crafting techniques around the world.

It’s the last day of the month, which means it’s time for another monthly list of Midjourney modifiers.

I’ve now twice tried to retire this tradition, but you told me in no uncertain terms that you want it to continue:

So let’s look at five more descriptors to modify your prompts with.

This month’s theme is traditional crafts and techniques.

Today’s showcase subjects are the same as for last Sunday’s --sref codes:

• Sunflower

• Owl

• Hat

Let’s go!

Prompt #1: “[subject], sashiko”

Sashiko (literally “little stabs” - pretty badass) is a type of Japanese hand stitching traditionally used to decorate or reinforce parts of clothing most susceptible to wear and tear (or to repair torn parts using patches). Midjourney typically generates the classic white-on-black look for this prompt (white threads + indigo-blue materials).

Sample images:

Prompt #2: “[subject], millefiori”

Millefiori (meaning "a thousand flowers" in Italian) is a glasswork technique that turns cross-sections of colorful glass rods into awesome-looking floral patterns. These are then used to decorate different surfaces. Midjourney will usually end up with bright kaleidoscopic mosaics for this prompt.

Sample images:

Prompt #3: “[subject], cloisonné”

Cloisonné (can you tell it’s French?) is an enameling technique predominantly used to decorate metal objects. It uses metal strips or wires to create little regions (cloisons) that are then filled with a colorful enamel paste or materials like glass and gems. The resulting design goes into a hot kiln to solidify it. Midjourney is pretty good at mimicking the look of cloisonne-adorned objects.

Sample images:

Prompt #4: “[subject], blue and white pottery”

Blue and white pottery revolves around cobalt blue designs painted on white porcelain. Think of Ming-era Chinese porcelain with floral motifs and other patterns, and you’ve got the right idea.

Note: You can also try “Ming porcelain” as a prompt modifier to push that specific aesthetic, but I find that Midjourney then often adds other colors into the resulting image, detracting from the blue-and-white vibe.

Sample images:

Prompt #5: “[subject], kintsugi”

And we’re back in Japan again!

Kintsugi (or “golden joinery”) was used to repair broken pottery items. You’d mix special lacquer with powdered gold, silver, or platinum and then you’d fill in the cracks with it. The result was somehow more epic than the original piece, with golden lines highlighting the previously broken elements.

Sample images:

Over to you…

As always, go ahead and test the above modifiers with other AI image models. It’s fun to see how they treat the same descriptors.

Want to share prompts and modifiers of your own?

Leave a comment or shoot me an email at whytryai@substack.com.

---

Here’s every Midjourney modifier I ever covered in one huge visual guide: