A blog question

**theworm**[$] · #1 10-02-2008, 05:49 PM

Strangely enough I seem to have blog readers. Most of them, I think come because I have free original crochet patterns on my blog, and a few have asked if there is a way that I can post a concise list of all my patterns.

Is there? I really don't know how to do that in the framework of blogger. I think that I probably can do it in the sidebar, but I have too many patterns for a reasonably sized list. What I would like is a teeny tiny version of this.

Is there an easy way to do that?

Brian suggested starting a new blog called "Pattern directory" (or something like that) and just listing the pattern names and links. That seems easy enough, but is there a more "professional" way of creating a pattern menu and posting it to my blog?

Thanks!

*emeleel* · #2 10-02-2008, 06:18 PM

Go to your Layout page, find the one called "Link List" and click on that. Title it "Pattern Directory" or whatever. With your blog open in another window, copy the links to the patterns you want to include into the link list gadget window, and title them. Tell it how you want to sort them, probably alphabetically, I'm sure. Save, and Blogger fixes them all as text links for you.

**theworm**[$] · #3 10-02-2008, 07:17 PM

I was going to do that, but was afraid that the list would make the side too long.
I went ahead and created a new blog w/ no comments allowed, and I put the links there. It will actually be a handy place for me to find them all, too!

Thanks!

sleeper54 · #4 10-05-2008, 04:08 AM

Quote:

theworm said

I was going to do that, but was afraid that the list would make the side too long.
I went ahead and created a new blog w/ no comments allowed, and I put the links there. It will actually be a handy place for me to find them all, too!

Thanks!

That solution looks good, should work well...

Might it be nice to use the 'labels' at the 'pattern-blog' to allow them to directly open the relevant post..?? Especially when one of the sub-categories starts to grow large, you could have multiple posts that would all open on a single page with one click.

Perhaps I am trying to make it easier than it already is...

...tom...

**theworm**[$] · #5 10-05-2008, 11:45 AM

Hhhm. Are you saying I could have one post that would open the label entries post, and then from there they could get the individual posts? That's a good idea! I don't have that many patterns yet, but as I add on ,that would make it neater. I think I like that idea a lot!
Thanks!

sleeper54 · #6 10-05-2008, 05:21 PM

...
Wow. This is more complicated than I thought.

I was just thinking of using the labels at the pattern blog to make it easy to find/open the specific posts there.

But it really is no big deal for them to scroll down through four or five posts to find one they might want.

I also did not realize until looking closer today, that you are linking them back to your original blog entries. So you get only links (no open posts) over there.

But you could also use the 'labels' at the original blog and point your readers at them to find appropriate posts. Clicking a 'baby pattern' label, for example, would open a new page that would call up all the posts so labeled. They would all be open in one place and easy for your reader to browse with pics and all.

But you already have the second pattern blog, and outside links for any website are good for visibility (at least as I understand it ) so maybe that is the way to go.

Hmmm. My head hurts again now. ...

...

...tom...
.

**theworm**[$] · #7 10-05-2008, 05:24 PM

Ok..... I didn't follow that. How would I do the links at the original blog without having all the patterns listed on the sidebar? If you have an easier way (for me or the readers) I would like to understand it.

sleeper54 · #8 10-05-2008, 05:37 PM

Quote:

theworm said

Ok..... I didn't follow that. How would I do the links at the original blog without having all the patterns listed on the sidebar? If you have an easier way (for me or the readers) I would like to understand it.

You can use the 'Label' feature to 'link' to all your specifically labeled blog posts at once.

For example: sleeper's photography label at his blog... ( by the way, thanks for the comment at the 'orange' post. I love orange... ) Clicking that photography label in the original list opens all those posts at once.

You can 'drag' that Label widget to the top of your sidebar and highlight it there for your original blog readers.

But again, that would only work at your original blog. Unless you duplicate all those pattern posts at the pattern blog.

...tom...
.

**theworm**[$] · #9 10-05-2008, 06:30 PM

all the patterns at the pattern blog are already on my original blog. The Pattern blog links all go back to the original blog.
I must be slow - I still don't quite get what you're trying to explain.
I haven't been using labels and I guess there is a good reason to, but I don't get it.

*emeleel* · #10 10-05-2008, 06:34 PM

On your pattern posts, label/tag them by type in the box for tags . Then choose the labels gadget from the layouts page. It will make a spot in the sidebar for all of your tags. If you don't want something to show up in the gadget, just don't give it a label.

On my blog, look under the sign on the right that says "pages by category". Those are all of my posts that are labeled. You can also see the labels at the end of each post that is labeled. When you click on those labels in either place, the blog automatically finds every post that is tagged with that label. You can also label something with more than one thing if it fits.

Let's say someone is looking for a hat pattern on your blog. The might scroll through til they find one, and if you've got it labeled with a "hat" tag, they can then click on that and it will bring up every post that is labeled "hat". Or they can look on the sidebar and find the list and click on the labels there. And every time you label a new post, it is automatically added to the list.

sleeper54 · #11 10-05-2008, 06:46 PM

Quote:

emeleel said

--snip--

Let's say someone is looking for a hat pattern on your blog. The might scroll through til they find one, and if you've got it labeled with a "hat" tag, they can then click on that and it will bring up every post that is labeled "hat". Or they can look on the sidebar and find the list and click on the labels there. And every time you label a new post, it is automatically added to the list.

.
What Melanie said...

Hopefully a different voice/explanation will help you 'get it'.

I did notice your blog set-up is a template prepared elsewhere than blogger..?? By 'Zootdesigns'..?? Though it looks like that site has gone defunct, to a general link site placeholder...

I am assuming that 'labels' option is still available within your site template or the underlying 'blogger' template structure...

...tom...
.

**theworm**[$] · #12 10-05-2008, 07:11 PM

Ah. Now I get it. That's a good idea, and I had no idea that's how the labels worked. That would have been much easier.

Tom, yes, my blog design is customized. Leslie did it for me, and I love it, but I'm not smart enough to change it.

sleeper54 · #13 10-05-2008, 07:41 PM

Quote:

theworm said

Ah. Now I get it. That's a good idea, and I had no idea that's how the labels worked. That would have been much easier.

Tom, yes, my blog design is customized. Leslie did it for me, and I love it, but I'm not smart enough to change it.

.
...truelol...

At least it seems you have a friend that can help you through your 'clueless-ness'..!!

I will remember to look for the 'new and improved' blog..!!

...tom...