Adding To The Wiki Tutorial 2021

 

Tutorial 3

Hello!

Booooy has it been a while!  A lot has changed everywhere!  Are you doing more sewing at home?  I hope so!  

Would you like to add listings to the Vintage Patterns Wiki?  A lot has changed there, too!  My previous tutorials are less than helpful these days.  So I thought I would write you a new one!

Here's my previous ones:  (Note:  They are not entirely accurate now but may still be useful)

*  Adding Links to the Vintage Pattern Wiki (Part 1)

*  Adding Patterns to the Vintage Pattern Wiki  (Part 2)

While adding links is more or less the same (I'll go over what's changed), adding patterns is a LOT different.  It's become more labor intensive, but it is really NOT very much more complicated.  This is going to be a LONG tutorial, but I'm sure you can get something out of it.

First things first:  This is written for people using the CHROME browser in WINDOWS on a PC.  I don't know if it will work the same in every other browser, or with other operating systems.  I do not recommend using a phone or a tablet to do this.  I recommend you use a PC.  

I DON'T RECOMMEND THIS FOR COMPLETE COMPUTER BEGINNERS.  If this looks too scary for you, well, I still believe you can do it, but maybe practice a little first. :)  If you have used and made edits to the Wiki before, you can probably do this no problem.

The first step is to make sure the pattern you want to add isn't already in the wiki.  If it is, well, you don't need to add it!   Let's go over again how to do that.

First, load the Wiki.  After the part that says "wiki" in the address bar, type in your pattern name.  The format is  "Brand Name Underscore Pattern Number"  If that pattern exists in the Wiki, it'll load that page.

In some cases, that won't be the pattern you're looking for... in that case add "underscore A," "underscore B," etc., until you find the one you're looking for.  If you don't find the one you're looking for, you have to add it!  In this case, I'm looking for a 1920s Butterick pattern.  When you're ready to add, click "create this page."

A blank source editor will pop up.

MEANWHILE, in another tab, open a pattern wiki page that already exists.  It doesn't matter what it's called or what page it is, just so long as the formatting is correct.  We're going to use this to transfer the format over to our listing.  DON'T CLOSE THE TAB of the page you're creating.

Again, we're just going to use a previously-published pattern to use the formatting for a new listing.  So, it doesn't matter which listing it is... we just need the formatting since the old way of using a template is gone.  We're basically making our own template.

On this page, click the purple arrow on the right.  Click "EDIT SOURCE"

Edit source is here!

When you open that page, RIGHT CLICK anywhere where the text is.  Then click "SELECT ALL."

Like this.

Now, while everything is highlighted, right click again and select "COPY."  (Note:  You can also type "Ctl+C.")

This is very VERY important.  HIT CANCEL.  DO NOT SAVE.  HIT CANCEL.

Now, switch back over to the "create listing" tab you started earlier.  You're going to paste in the information from the listing you just copied.

In the blank listing you have started, right click, and click "PASTE." 

(Note:  You can also type "Ctl-V.")  This will paste in that information from the other listing.

Now, you have to remove what you don't need.  You want to keep the formatting, but get rid of all the information about the other pattern.  Keep headings and stuff that is the same in every listing.  Delete everything else.  Delete other vendors, links to blogs, etc.  But MAKE SURE you keep those category headings.

For example

Delete this stuff.  We'll add categories back later.  (Again, DON'T delete headings and important stuff.)

Next, the first thing you want to do is add your picture.  Assuming you have taken a picture or scanned one in of the pattern you want to add.  Put your cursor in the spot indicated in the picture, and click the little button that looks like a picture.

When you click, a pop-up occurs.  Don't freak out!

The pop up will ask you if you want to use a picture that's already been uploaded.  This is pretty annoying, since you probably don't want to do that!  Ignore those pictures and click "Upload."  

(Note:  If your pattern already exists (which you should have already checked,) the picture might be there.  Make SURE the pattern isn't already in the Wiki.

Another box will pop up.  Agree to the terms by clicking on the box, and then click "Select File."  Pick the picture of the pattern you want to add.  Or, you can drag it to the grey box, either way.

After you do that, ANOTHER screen will pop up.  Put in a brief description... (it can be as simple as the name of the pattern,) and then click "SAVE."

Now, yet another window will pop up.  It should show the image you just uploaded.  Click "USE THIS IMAGE."

Yet another annoying window will pop up.  Just ignore it and click "Insert."

Now the image is inserted as Wikitext code.  You need to edit it a little bit.  You need to make sure you add "|align=left|"  and "|400px"  You might want to make it 350 px if your image is especially large.  

This tells the code where to put the image (on the left side of the page) and how big it should be (400 pixels.)  If you don't do this, the default is all wrong and will mess up the listing.

Now you want to add your pattern's description.  One space under the picture code, but above "links to reviews/blog posts," write the description of your pattern.

The usual format is "name of pattern (semicolon) ca. date of pattern (semicolon) title of pattern (period) pattern description."

If you're confused, just look at other listings or the picture above about how writing the description works.

Next, scroll down to the "add categories" section.  It goes one space under the "wishlist" part.  (I usually add my shop link later, more about that in a bit.)

The format is "(two left brackets) Category (colon) Name of category (two right brackets)"

Look at the picture above.  When you start to type a category, it should pop up and you can just click it and it'll finish the category entry for you.  Add as many categories as you want.  You can always add more after you publish the listing.  (*Or Tarna will often add more for you.)

When you've added all the categories you want, your listing is more or less done!  We want to check it to make sure nothing looks wrong.  Click "preview" and you can make sure it looks ok before you publish it.  If you just want to give up (I hope you don't!) click "Cancel."

It'll pop up a window of the way your entry looks.  If it looks good, great!  You can click "Save Changes."  If something looks wrong, click "Resume Editing" and you can fix it.

Then your listing is officially published!  YOU DID IT!

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NOW.  I bet you're wondering how to add your shop to the listing.  This part is easy.  You can do it on a listing you made, or any listing in the Wiki that's already there.

This is MUCH easier.

Click on "Edit Source" next to "Sources/Vendors."

If there's other shops already listed, make sure you put yours last.

The format is listed above. "*[[Your shop link your shop name]]"

You can preview to make sure it looks okay, or click "save."

And that's it!

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I hope you found this helpful.  If you have any questions, please feel free to drop them in the comments.  Please visit all the Pattern Patter Team shops by searching "PPTP" or "Pattern Patter Team" on Etsy.

1950s Cocktail Dresses

Most agree cocktail dresses reached their height in the 1950s. After the end of World War II, a surge in the popularity of "at-home" cocktail parties created the need for women to have a short dress suitable for more formal occasions - in essence, a short version of an evening gown. Dior is said to have first coined the phrase "cocktail dress" in the late 1940s. 

French designers released cocktail-specific dresses. Less expensive ready-to-wear dresses were eagerly embraced by American women. A great many sewing patterns for cocktail dresses were also produced in the 1950s. High fashion was now available to everyone.

Cocktail parties helped define women's roles as wives and hostesses. They were also a means to promote or further their husband's career.

The beauty of most 1950s cocktail dresses is the design of pleating, ruching, folds and gathers. 

There are two main cocktail dress styles: the bouffant skirt dress and the sheath dress. The full skirted dresses were always worn with a petticoat or two. The sheath dresses were slim around the body. The hourglass silhouette of both styles required the wearing of bullet bras, waist-cinchers, corselets and girdles.

By the mid-1960s, formal dress for cocktail parties began to give way to more casual attire. By the late 60s - 1970s, hostesses wore a "hostess dress" - a full length dress with a simpler design than those of the 1950s. Hostess dresses are sometimes called patio dresses as cocktail parties moved outdoors.

The Pattern Patter Team on etsy offers a large variety of cocktail dress patterns. 

Row One: 

McCall's 4357 @ BluetreeSewingStudio

Vogue 199 @ ViennasGrace

McCall's 3781 @ Redcurlzs

McCall's 6044 @ CloesCloset

Row Two

Vogue 4218 @ VintagePatternStore

Vogue 1881 @ VogueVixens

Butterick 7648 @ TheTinThimble

McCall's 3827 @ ThePatternSource

Row Three

Butterick 6095 @ FindCraftyPatterns

Butterick 5557 @ PurplePlaidPenguin

Modes Royale 1883 @ kinseysue

McCall's 4417 @ honeymoonbus

Row Four

Vogue 4963 @ sewbettyanddot

Butterick 5557 @ retroactivefuture

Modes Royale 1749 @ stitchingbynumbers

Advance 110 @ SewAsItWasPatterns

Sewing Tips for New Sewers - It's National Sewing Month!

September is National Sewing Month! Can't sew, you say?

It can be disheartening to be a beginner at anything. Your eyes and taste are far above your skill set. You want that killer bombshell cocktail dress. For beginners, many patterns are too difficult. Recognize that your ability is limited but will improve.

Nowadays we have the internet where many blogs, tutorials and sew-alongs are available.  Pattern companies also offer help - the last time I was at a pattern store, I noticed the Simplicity help sign. To start with, pick a simple project, such as a pillow. Back when girls had to take Home Ec, their project was an apron. Both are easy to make and you don't need a pattern.

Make it your goal to learn at least one new skill with your projects. If your pillow seams are not straight, practice again.  Each completed project will give you confidence to add a new skill. It can be discouraging at first. If you find yourself in over your head, don't give up. The old adage "practice makes perfect" truly does apply. You need to be realistic and accept some failures.

Use those failures as a stepping stone to your goal - that bombshell dress! Until you reach that level, select "Easy-to-Sew" patterns. Bear in mind that many, if not most, vintage patterns assumed our grandmothers and great-grandmothers knew how to sew and to sew well. Beginning about 1950 - 1960, companies began to include more simplified instructions with more diagrams. Also, a great many vintage patterns are made of pre-cut, plain tissue with letters or piece names punched into each piece. This can be overwhelming to new sewer. Add this goal to your list.

I overhead an excellent tip at an estate sale recently. A mother and her teenage daughter were browsing the sewing items and the mom reached for a large bag of sewing notions. She turned to her daughter, who had an armload of fabric, and told her that she should use some of the zippers and oddly cut pieces of fabric as practice. What a thrifty idea - bags of sewing notions and fabric (usually not vintage) are easy to find at sales as well as at thrift stores and are generally low priced.

Fabric panels are often easy to sew. At back to school time, many early childhood teachers buy school-themed fabric and make chair covers for their students. These covers are rectangles and again, require no pattern. Seasonal panels are also available. Make a door decoration, wall hanging, banner or holiday pillow. As your skill improves, graduate to other panels. Christmas panels are already out at Hobby Lobby. Most of these contain easy to follow directions.

By taking incremental steps, you can teach yourself to sew. Think of it as going to school - you build on prior knowledge as you pass through the grades. Remember to use the vast resources of the internet to help you if you have no seamstress to call upon.

The Pattern Patter Team on etsy.com offers a wide variety of patterns for beginners to experienced sewers.

Here is a small sampling of the many Easy-to-Sew patterns offered by our Professional Pattern Sellers. All of the patterns we offer have been checked for completeness so you may shop with confidence.

To see more information about these patterns, please click on the shop name below the collage.

ROW #1 ---
kinseysue; PurplePlaidPenguin; VintageNeedleFinds; CloesCloset

ROW #2 ---
retroactivefuture; ladydiamond46; FoxVintageUK; SoSewSome

ROW # 3  ---
HeathersSewingStore; WitsEndDesigns; VogueVixens; sandritocat

ROW # 4 ---
PengyPenguins; ViennasGrace; redcurlsz; FindCraftyPatterns

Ladies, Kindly Remove Your Hats

It's been decades since movie theaters asked ladies to remove their hats. Hats are lovely and add a special touch to an ensemble.

Hats have been worn since the time of the ancient Egyptians. For hundreds of years, a modest woman would cover her head. However, over the decades, the wearing of hats has diminished. There are still many religious groups whose female members wear head coverings. The come-as-you-are to church philosophy is not embraced by all and ladies continue to wear "church clothes" which includes a hat. Members of royalty also wear hats in public. Hats are seemingly mandatory at horse races such as the Kentucky Derby and Steeplechase.

Princess Diana's turban from the 1980s.

Some of the most extravagant hats are from the Edwardian era. Women's hats became a statement of wealth and influence in the highly structured society of that time. Fortunes were paid for exotic dyed feathered hats. For a time entire stuffed birds were used to adorn hats.

Macy's ad, 1909

                                                        ca. 1910 photos

The Roaring Twenties arrived and with it short hair. Ladies needed a hat which would cover their head and look well with a bobbed cut.

Catalog ads for 1920s hats.

By the 1930s and 1940s, hats had moved on from the cloche and various styles flourished.

Spring 1942: Lilly Dache hat is on the left; Hattie Carnegie hat is on the right.

Schiaparelli hats, ca. 1940s

John Frederics Silk & Straw

Chanel, 1930

Lilly Dache Headpieces

           

Lilly Dache

Stetsons for her, ca. 1940s.

In the 1950s and early 1960s, hats became even more diverse. Wide brims and pillboxes

 were popular.  Smaller hats with netting continued to be worn.

Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Dior, 1954

Givenchy

The 1960s!

                                                  

Here are some examples of avant garde head-wear     

Alexander McQueen

Armani, 2014

Issey Miyake

Unknown

The Pattern Patter team offers a wide variety of hat patterns for children and adults. Here is just a small sampling. Visit our team members' shops to see more lovely hat patterns, ranging from vintage to modern to retro.  The shop names are underneath the collages - just click on the name for more information about a specific hat pattern.

In addition, the Pattern Patter Team has a number of boards on Pinterest. Please follow us - members add patterns  and pictures daily. 

Row #1 ---CloesCloset; Redcurlzs; VintageNeedleFinds
Row #2 ---VogueVixens; FloradoraPresents; ViennasGrace
Row #3 ---Stitchandzip; SoSewSome; PengyPatterns

Row #1 --- kinseysue;  sandritocat;  TabbysVintageShop
Row #2 --- PurplePlaidPenguin;  ThePatternSource; CherryCorners

Here's a handy reference chart of hat styles.