Why This Web Page?
In response to a web design assignment for class, I created this web page to demonstrate my understanding of web layout and usability. I attempted to translate an encyclopedia into a web format that would make its use intuitive and helpful.
By using tabs, I hoped to indicate the full scope of the material. Just by glancing at the header, a reader can easily see the number and variety of subjects covered by this page. Although I did not code the entire encyclopedia in this project, you can get a sense of the magnitude of the original text.
I confined each subject to its own tab, a system of indexed categorization that may prove helpful to the reader. While the reader cannot search the whole webpage content in one pass, that necessity is unlikely to arise. Each type of needlework is materially and mentally on different, but parallel tracks. If you are doing embroidery, you are unlikely to also be searching for knitting techniques. It is the same rationale for keeping the appetizer section separate from the dessert section in a cookbook.
The reader may still access all parts of the book in one place by paging through the tabs. Within each tab, there is a wealth of information for the reader to search through. Within each page, every individual technique is accesible through the menu on the right. The links take you to each anchored section of text.
The content was in the public domain and available at Project Gutenberg. Although the text was already formatted with HTML code, part of the class excercise was to learn the use of regular expressions in advanced text editors. So I had to re–format the ASCII text myself. Below, I will include the information of the people who kindly produced and distributed this project for Project Gutenberg, as well as the original preface for this volume.
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Produced by Susan Skinner, Julie Barkley and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net. This file is gratefully uploaded to the PG collection in honor of Distributed Proofreaders having posted over 10,000 ebooks.
ENCYCLOPEDIA
OF
NEEDLEWORK
BY
THÉRÈSE DE DILLMONT
ENGLISH EDITION
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ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
To be had: of TH. DE DILLMONT, DORNACH, Alsace, and at all booksellers, and embroidery shops.
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Price, English bound with gilt edges:
English edition Sh. 3
French edition Fr. 5.75
German edition Mk. 3
Preface
The absolute want of any comprehensive book on needlework––such an one as contains both verbal and pictorial descriptions of everything included under the name of needlework––has led me to put into the serviceable form of an Encyclopedia, all the knowledge and experience, which years of unceasing study and practice have enabled me to accumulate on the subject, with the hope that diligent female workers of all ages, may be able, by its means to instruct themselves in every branch of plain and fancy needlework.
All the patterns given, even the most insignificant, were worked afresh for the purpose, and thus, not merely faithful representations, but also lucid and intelligible explanations of the same, are secured.
In order that my readers may have something besides the dull theory, the work is enlivened by a number of useful patterns, some new, some derived from the artistic productions of such countries and epochs as have become famous by special excellence in the domain of needlework.
Though, at first sight, the reproduction of many of these patterns may seem to present insuperable difficulties, they will, after a careful study of the text, and exact attention to the directions given, prove easy to carry out.
Many of these interesting designs are drawn from private collections, whose owners, with great kindness, placed their treasures at my disposal, to copy and borrow from at discretion, for which I desire to take the present opportunity, of tendering them my warmest thanks.
The choice of colours and material––a difficult matter to many––my readers will find rendered comparatively easy to them by the notes affixed to the illustrations; and I may point out, that most of the patterns were worked with D.M.C cottons, which enjoy the well–earned reputation of being, the very best of their kind, in the market of the world.
Experience has convinced me that, in many instances, these cottons may with advantage take the place of wool, linen thread, and even silk.
If this work meet with indulgent judges, and prove really useful, I shall find ample reward in that fact for the trouble and difficulties that have unavoidably attended its completion.