Come up with a list of names/labels for different techniques used in patterns

[joostdecock]

This is a todo from #846

The idea is to have some sort of list of techniques/challenges that are required to make a pattern, and then list them so people have an idea what it takes.

The first step: come up with such a list. Feel free to comment below to add items.

[nataliasayang]

My suggestions:

Technique/challenge	Notes
Knit binding
Bias binding
Darts
Curved seams
Simple pockets	In my mind, for the current designs, this is "any pockets besides welt pockets," but this is just an idea. Might include pockets serged around the edges and inserted in side seams, like Paco, or folded and topstitched patch pockets, like Albert
Welt pockets	This design includes welt pockets, which are an intermediate sewing technique. It is easy to omit welt pockets if desired.
Zipper
Sleeves
Ribbing
Buttons
Grommets/eyelets
Interfacing
Basting	Maybe not needed? I think anything that would require basting would also require "Precision" though not the other way around
Lining
Elastic	Elastic is either sewn inside a fabric tube, like Paco, or attached directly, like Bruce
Precision	Precise sewing required, e.g., Benjamin, Carlita/Carlton, Cathrin, Florent, Jaeger, Simon/Simone, Trayvon, maybe others
Patternmaking from a block	This is a block, a basic shape on which other patterns are based. Blocks are typically not made as-is (except to verify the fit) but rather serve as a basis for other patterns. Making a pattern from a block may involve adding wearing ease and design ease.

I've been jotting down techniques as I go through the difficulties ( #879 ), so can provide examples if helpful to anyone.

[darigovresearch]

Think this would be really helpful, is there any way we can publish a preliminary list with placeholders for the ones we don't have?

Example like the instructions for Albert - https://freesewing.org/docs/patterns/albert/instructions/

[nataliasayang]

@darigovresearch , do you mean a preliminary list of patterns and their associated techniques? If yes, see what you think of this...

Design	Techniques
Aaron athletic shirt	Knit binding
Albert apron	Simple pockets
Bella body block	Darts, Developing from a block
Benjamin bow tie	Precision, Interfacing
Bent two-part sleeve block	Developing from a block, Sleeves
Breanna body block	Darts, Developing from a block
Brian body block	Sleeves, Developing from a block
Bruce boxer briefs	Curved seams, Elastic
Carlita coat	Simple pockets, Welt pockets, Interfacing, Basting, Precision, Darts, Lining, Curved seams
Carlton coat	Simple pockets, Welt pockets, Interfacing, Basting, Precision, Darts, Lining, Curved seams
Cathrin corset	Precision, Grommets/eyelets
Diana draped top	Sleeves, Bias binding
Florence face mask	Curved seams
Florent flat cap	Interfacing, Precision
Holmes hat	Precision, Lining
Hortensia handbag	Precision, Zipper
Huey hoodie	Zipper, Ribbing, Sleeves, Simple pockets
Hugo hooded jumper with raglan sleeves	Ribbing, Sleeves, Simple pockets
Jaeger sport coat	Darts, Buttons, Precision, Sleeves, Welt Pocket, Interfacing
Paco pants	Simple pockets, Elastic, Grommets/eyelets
Penelope pencil skirt	Darts, Zipper, Interfacing, Lining
Sandy circle skirt	Zipper, Buttons
Shin swim trunks	Grommets/eyelets
Simon shirt	Darts, Buttons, Precision, Sleeves
Simone shirt	Darts, Buttons, Precision, Sleeves
Sven sweater	Sleeves, Ribbing
Tamiko top
Teagan T-shirt	Sleeves, Knit binding
Theo trouser	Welt pockets, Darts, Basting, Lining, Precision, Interfacing
Titan trouser block	Developing from a block
Trayvon tie	Precision, Interfacing
Wahid waistcoat	Darts, Buttons, Interfacing, Welt pockets
Waralee wrap pants	Welt pockets

[darigovresearch]

@nataliasayang that's amazing! Should we have a placeholder for any items which don't use any techniques as it may confuse users who think that a label is not present out of misdocumentation?

Having a dedicated section of the website explaining these techniques to use as a common/shared resource would be helpful but may be worth opening as a separate issue

Correction there is already a page and may be worth cross checking to see if any are missing or under-documented - https://freesewing.org/docs/sewing/

[nataliasayang]

@darigovresearch I think a placeholder is a good idea! What do you think would be a sensible name?

Agreed, the sewing docs seem like a good spot for this. I'm happy to work on adding pages for new techniques if the current list is okay. Might be able to get help from sewing people on Discord too.

As far as adding techniques to patterns, what do you think, @joostdecock ? We had talked about icons/labels (https://github.com/freesewing/freesewing/issues/882) which I like, but I'm not sure where they would go. There are probably simpler options to do this without icons, like adding a note (https://freesewing.dev/editors/markdown/custom-components/note) to each pattern's instructions. Like what @darigovresearch listed for Albert :)

[darigovresearch]

@nataliasayang "No complex techniques used in this pattern" should suffice as a placeholder.

May be good to add the list of techniques required in a new paragraph of the "What you need" section of each pattern as this is a common page & users are likely to go there to see what they will require. This requires no need for icons or specific notes as a first iteration. Request for icons can be set as an issue which someone from the community may want to make a pull request for.

[joostdecock]

A placeholder is a good idea, if for nothing else but to differentiate between patterns that have no tricky techniques, and patterns where we forgot to add the list of techniques (which I can see happening when we add a new pattern).

Perhaps we can take a queue from github where we label things with good-first-issue. Would something like good-first-pattern or beginner-friendly be useful? Or does that sort of invalidate the fact that it's supposed to be a list of techniques :thinking: If so, perhaps something like basic sewing skills.

In general, I prefer to avoid saying things are easy (or not complex) because that is easy enough for us to say as we are all demi-gods of the sewing realm. But it can be really discouraging for people who truly are absolute beginners.

[joostdecock]

As for where to keep this info, I think the logical choice would be in the @freesewing/pattern-info package.

That way, we can pull out that info and include it on a variety of pages. Whether that's in the docs, or on the pattern info pages.

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