Let's Add Patterns To The Vintage Pattern Wiki!

Hello pattern fans!

Here comes another addition of our tutorial series.  Maybe you read our last article about ADDING LINKS to the Vintage Pattern Wikia.

Now it's time to step up and learn how to add a whole new pattern entry.  You can do it, I believe in you!

Again, this is for the CHROME browser, I don't know if it will work the same in every other browser, but it should be similar.  I recommend using a PC and not your phone or tablet.

Let's get started.

Okay, the first step is to make sure that the pattern isn't already in the Wiki.  (For more information on that, please see the previous tutorial.)  Once you've confirmed the pattern doesn't already exist, it's time to add it yourself!

In the above case, Vogue 8449 and Vogue 8449 A were not the pattern for which I was looking.  So, I needed to make "Vogue 8449 B" and add the pattern myself.  First off, click on "Create article [Your Pattern Name]"

That will pop up a window that looks like the one above.  You want to start with adding a photo.  Click "Add a photo."

Click "Choose File" and select your picture of the pattern.  It shouldn't be sized too large.  Also, give it a unique name, so it won't have the same name as any other photo in the library.  If it does conflict, it will tell you, make sure you don't write over anyone else's photo.

After you've selected your file, click "Upload."

An "uploaded photo" page will pop up.  Size the photo to 350 pixels.  You can type it in, or use the slider.   Then click the dot to make sure the pattern picture gets aligned on the left.  Then click "Add photo."

After you upload the photo, it will appear in the main Wiki listing editing page.  The little green thing there is a "notice."  It instructs you to switch to "source mode" which will make it easier to carefully edit the listing.  Click on "source" in the tab to the upper right.

This is what "source mode" looks like.  It looks a little intimidating, but don't be afraid!

Okay, we have to do a lot of things here.  First, you can delete the notice.  Just backspace over it or highlight it and delete it.  See the [[File...]] part?  That's the code that is your pattern picture.  Write the description of the pattern directly under that piece of code.

The method the Wiki likes to use is "[Pattern Brand Name] [Pattern Number]; ," followed by ca. [Pattern date]; followed by [Pattern Title] and [Pattern Description]  (Don't type the brackets.)  If you don't know the exact date, just put "1950s", or "1960s."  If the pattern has a date on it, put that date.

 Read some other pattern listings to get a feel for the format.

Since we aren't adding links to blogs or shops here, you can remove the parts next to the pink asterisks.  Make sure you don't delete the headings.

You can ignore everything else.

Here's what it looks like after I typed in my description.  See how I added the description?  Also, note how I deleted the links to blogs/vendors.

At this point I usually switch back to "Visual" mode to make sure nothing looks weird.

If everything looks good, you can move on.  Adding a few categories is usually a good idea.  "Vintage Sewing Pattern" is in every entry.  You should also use the brand of the pattern as a tag, and the year or decade it was made.  The category suggestions will pop up as you type. You don't need to add too many categories.  A moderator will add more to make sure everything gets put in the right place.  Of course, if you think a category should be added that doesn't already exist, go ahead and add it, but don't be offended if a moderator removes it.

Here's me adding some categories.

Alright, we're almost done!  It's not finished until you click "Publish."

And that's that!

A couple of things:

-  If you mess up, don't freak out... a moderator can probably fix something if you can't figure it out.
-  I know it looks intimidating, but after a few tries it will be second nature.
-  Be careful not to add a pattern that already exists.
-  Remember not to add any patterns that are from after about 1990.

If you have any questions, I can try to help, but I'm no expert!  I hope you'll give it a try, as the Wikia is such a great resource for us all.