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.

Let's Add Links To The Vintage Sewing Patterns Wikia: A Tutorial For Beginners

So, you want to know how to add links to the Vintage Sewing Patterns Wikia, but it seems kind of complicated!  Not to worry, I can help.  It's not as scary as it seems.

Let me give you a simple tutorial on adding your pattern link to the Wikia.

First, of course you have to go to the Vintage Sewing Patterns Wiki at http://vintagepatterns.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page or by clicking HERE.

NOTE: These are instructions when using the CHROME browser.  I don't know if all of these will work in other browsers, but it should be just about the same.

It's probably a good idea to have the pattern you want to add opened in one tab, and the Wikia opened in another.  Then you can easily flip back and forth between them.

Next, you want to find the pattern to which you want to add your link.

In this case, I was looking for Vogue 1015, a pattern designed by Bill Blass.  If a pattern is already in the database, it will pop up.  You can highlight either the Vogue 1015 or Vogue 1015 A and hit "Enter,"  Make sure you use the search bar on the main Wikia homepage.

In this case, Vogue_1015 was the correct pattern I was looking for.  But if it wasn't, you can add an "underscore" plus "A" to the end of the address and hit "Enter" again to look at the next entry in the Wikia.

This is me hypothetically typing the "_A" to check the next Wiki article.  But since it was the correct entry on the first try, we don't have to do that.

So, now we'll scroll down to add our link!

See that little "Edit" next to "Sources/Vendors"?  Click there. :)

Now in this case, some people have already added links.  That's good, because it's easier for you.  Put your cursor at the end of the last link, and hit "Enter."  This will give you a new line with a new block next to it.

Now, you want to click on that funny looking button up there.  That's the "Add Link" button.

This new window will pop up.  It looks kind of scary, but don't be afraid.  You can do this!

Where it says "Target page or URL" you copy/paste the link to the pattern in your shop.

Where it says "Text to display" you type the name of your shop.

Then you need to hit "OK" to save it.

Now, if you want to add a size next to the name of your shop... you can do that now.   Don't add it as part of the link, write it after you've added the link.   Then when you're done, make sure you hit "PUBLISH" to save it.

THAT'S IT!!!

So, we looked at what to do if links are already there.. but what if they aren't?  Don't worry, it's not much different.

See, no links!  What should you do?  Well, click the edit button just like last time.

This time, we're going to edit in "Source Mode"  This is the better way to edit Wikia.  Click the "Source" button.

This time, you're going to type in your link manually.

-  First, type an asterisk.
-  Next, type a left bracket like this:  [
-  Then, copy/paste the link to your listing.
-  Then, type one space
-  Then, type the name of your shop
-  Then, type the right bracket like this: ]

Then, you can hit publish.  If you want, before publishing, you can switch back to visual mode by clicking the "Visual" button to check to make sure everything looks okay.

Either way, make sure you hit "PUBLISH" or it won't save.

And that's all!!!!

Later, we'll talk about adding a whole new pattern listing to Wikia.  It's a bit more complicated but we'll give it a go, right? :)