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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I search the database?

There are many ways to search the database. If you are searching for a particular pattern with a recognized name, you just type it in the ‘Name’ box. You don’t have to check anything else on the page if you know the name – just scroll down and click ‘Search’. If you don’t find it, the pattern may not be there yet. Sometimes there will be more than one entry for a particular pattern name. For instance ‘Lily’. At the present time, if you type in ‘Lily’, you will find 6 thumbnail images and names of patterns in the database. There is ‘Lily and Vase’, ‘Lily - Adams’, ‘Lily - Wood & Challinor’, ‘Lily and Rose’, ‘Lily of the Valley’, and ‘Water Lily’. Click on a picture if you want to go to the page that gives specific information regarding that pattern. Click on the back arrow of your browser to return to the thumbnail list. You can click on ‘Return to Search Page’ at anytime.

On the Search Page, you can type in the name of a series such as Medallion Portrait Series, scroll down and click ‘Search’. All the patterns entered in that series will appear as thumbnails with title and maker information on the left side.

If you are looking for a pattern beginning with “A” or “The” in the title, the article will appear after the other words. For instance “The Gem” will be listed as “Gem, The”. The easiest way to search that type of pattern is to just type in “Gem” in the Name box. All patterns will come up with that word regardless of where “The” is given in the title.

If you want a broader search – or just want to play around and see what you can find, try different words in the ‘Name’ line. Type in the word ‘Dog’ and see what a variety of patterns you find with that word in the title. If you want to find only dogs in Children’s patterns, click on ‘All’ under ‘Category’. Click on ‘Children’s Subjects’, then scroll down and click on ‘Search’. You do not have to choose a sub-category under the main Category although you can if you want to.

Members may not realize that all patterns in the database do not have documented names. If an editor enters a pattern in the database and has found no reference to a name, he or she will give the pattern a provisional name. In that case the word (Provisional) will follow the name chosen by the editor. Later on, if a name is discovered in a pattern book or other reference, the editor will change the Provisional name to the documented name. In the meantime, it might be interesting for you to look at some of those patterns with Provisional names. Type in the word ‘Provisional’ in the ‘Name’ line. If you choose no category, you will find more than 260 ‘provisional’ patterns in the database at the present time. If you choose a category, and maybe add a sub-category such as Chinoiserie/Pictures with Chinese Influence, then click on Search, you will have narrowed down the focus of your search. If you have particular expertise in a certain category, you could help us out by clicking on (For Instance) Floral and Botanical/ Floral. Because we don’t have an editor specifically assigned to floral patterns, we are apt to put in a Provisional name in that category when a documented name exists. If you see such a pattern and know the accepted name, please email us with the information.

With over 2200 patterns now entered in the database, it can be interesting and a lot of fun to just go in and look around. Enjoy!

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