Ask MetaFilter posts tagged with patterns

Where does this shirt pattern come from?

karl88 — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 23:22:20 -0800

What is the origin of these shirts? I have this shirt. i want to know where it comes from. not where it's made, but where in the world does this pattern and style come from? PatternShirt01.jpg PatternShirt02.jpg thanks!

In an OOP world, what's the best way to handle a lot of sequential code?

grumblebee — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 10:19:40 -0800

Design-pattern (programming) question. I'm working on a huge app (many thousand lines of code), and one of the most complex parts of it is the initialization logic. There's a ton of code that needs to run sequentially and only once.

Currently, I'm handling all of this with singletons, but I wonder if there's a better way.

Here's the basic framework now (in pseudocode).

MainInit.getInstance().init();

/* inside MainInit's init() method... */

DataManager.getInstance().init();
CommandManager.getInstance().init();
GraphicsManager.getInstance().init();
... etc ... //maybe 40 more calls like this

This seems pretty straightforward and easy to maintain. I don't have any real problems with it. But it's sort of off-the-top-of-my-head. I've never worked on an app that needs so much initializing before.

Since it's not really about objects -- it's just about tons of code running in sequential order -- I'm not sure of the best, tried and true method of breaking it up into manageable chunks. And I can't find much about it in my Design Pattern books.

I'm cool with non design-pattern solutions, too. I know patterns aren't for everything. I just need a really good way of organizing this sort of code.

Floral patterns - what are they called?

dantodd — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 21:24:44 -0800

Name that pattern! I've seen some really nice designs lately that feature a stylised floral pattern running in a repeating, seamless motif. The pattern is often a tone of the primary colour and connotes an old world, luxury feeling. It makes me think of expensive wallpaper. What is the pattern called and where can I acquire a copy?

I thought that the pattern might have been a brocade or a jacquard but I can't find a good match when I search those terms.

I spy with my little eye

wittgenstein — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 12:15:44 -0800

What do you look at/notice, as you wander through the world, that I probably ignore? The origin of this question was my teaching students how to recognize the seven border patterns (sometimes called "frieze patterns"). After I taught this the first time, I suddenly realized that there are border patterns all over the place; I just never noticed them.

This made me wonder what people who are different from me pay attention to as they wander around. If you are a designer, what do you see that I ignore? If you are a plumber, what do you see that I ignore?

I think this isn't chatfilter, but delete if you think it is.

Someone must be blogging about blogs, right?

lhl — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 02:02:39 -0800

Is anyone out there publishing analysis or actively tracking interesting developments/trends in blogging in terms of the emerging patterns in the form and functionality of the blogs themselves? The type of stuff that I'm thinking about is like Luke Wroblewski's Blog Interface Design 2.0 article (2005) or the posts on blog layouts that Jonathan Boutelle was doing (2005-2006) - the examples here are focusing more on the nuts and bolts, although I'm also open to coverage/discussion of more macro-trends (flare, codes, tumblelogs, migration onto social networking sites, etc).

Barring that, if anyone's seen anything really interesting in the past year or two, post away.

Negative ghostrider, the pattern is full

disillusioned — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 01:57:08 -0800

When I drum, I throw patterns and caution to the wind... I've been playing drums for about 10 years now, pretty consistently. I grew up through concert band and never got into drumline, but learned enough chops and rudiments to know what I'm doing. I know how to play set.

But I've always played in low-pressure/laid back scenarios.

And now that I'm with a (prog rock/indie rock/alt/whatever) band and we're trying to lay down some tracks, I'm finding that I shift a given bass/snare/hat pattern throughout a song. I play what feels good, but I lack consistency.

I know it can be good at times, but I'm listening to a *ton* of music right now across *all* genres and drummers stick to their patterns throughout entire songs.

They may layer them, they may make them very long and involved, they may switch to alternate patterns, but they've clearly written one and stuck with it.

Now that I'm aware of the "problem," I'm going to do my best to write a solid pattern and stick to it, instead of just feeling it out throughout the song, but do you have any advice on locking this stuff down better? I can play complex, graceful fills that work well where they land, simple fills that add just enough texture, and anywhere in between, but I'm struggling with the simple idea of committing my own ideas to memory.

Ironic, since I tend to memorize every single track of any given song in just a few plays.

Any tips on focusing and locking down? My thoughts are to write out what I want to play, record it and just ingrain it, over and over... Anything else? Also, how the hell do I get myself to lay off the damn bass drum and let the silence speak?

Cheers and thanks.

Need Resources on Mind Energy Changing DNA

watercarrier — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 09:16:07 -0800

I need solid scientific evidence that thought can change matter - how consciousness effects DNA structure, patterns and ultimately reality. Charts, studies, videos, all is welcome as a way of viewing and understanding how the mind's energy works in relation to physical matter. Thank you so much.

Help me doodle pretty.

Laugh_track — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 07:08:59 -0800

DoodleFilter: How do I learn to draw intricate patterns freehand?

Where to find an old pattern for a knit Christmas stocking?

otherwordlyglow — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 10:32:41 -0800

Help me find the pattern for the knitted Christmas stocking of my youth! My mother knitted Christmas stocking for all four of her children when we were young. We're all in our 30s and 40s and I would like to continue the tradition. She can't remember when she got the pattern and my guess it that it was a kit. The pattern/kit would have been available in the mid-60s through the early 70s. It features Santa Claus in the chimney on the front and a moon on the back. The top edge includes a space to add each child's name. It looks like this: Front Back Close-up

I'm sure if I put my mind to it, I could make the pattern but I'm lazy and don't have time. I've spent hours searching online for it and have gotten nowhere. I once saw another one and asked that person where she had gotten hers and it turns out she bought it at a garage sale. Maybe I need info on good knitting forums for asking this same question but if anyone has ideas of where to find the pattern that would be the best!

if (a || (b and (c or d)) and (not e or (f and g and h))) then ???

grumblebee — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 19:24:44 -0800

Comp Sci: What's the best Design Pattern or structure for dealing with a complex relationship between many booleans? I'm working on an app that has a zillion configuration options. I need to deal with situations in which the user choses Option A and (Option B or Option C) but not (Option D and (Option E or F)). That sort of thing.

Using tons of if/then/else's is clearly wrong. It's totally confusing. The State Pattern seems like the right direction, but unless I misunderstand it, it's too simple. It assumes that an app is in State A, State B or State C. What about apps that are in States A and C? In other words, there are 50 options and any combination of them can be on/off.

What's the best way to manage this?

I'm an Actionscript Programmer, but I'm pretty comfortable translating concepts from C-family languages.

Large scale scanning and printing?

bitter-girl.com — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 15:05:08 -0800

Looking for a specialty printer who can print large-format pattern pieces (and possibly scan them, too) for a new line of sewing and knitting patterns. I design knitwear and my partner designs sewing patterns. We plan to sell them both online as downloadable PDFs (like the BurdaStyle ones -- printed on a normal-sized printer by the end user, then matched up point a to point a, etc and taped together) and as regular style printed patterns in stores. Not sure if the services used by architects (as referenced here on MeFi) would help.

Here's the problem:

a. we are doing the pattern pieces manually (so they're large, life-sized pieces), and we're not sure if we should have them scanned in full-size then printed from the scans, or drafted digitally.

b. we need to find a printer who can handle printing large pieces like these, at a reasonable price. Our local preferred printer for everything else can't.

The usual size of similar commercial pattern piece sheets is somewhere around 3' x 6' if that helps. Thanks.

Can I copy a button-down shirt I love?

apetpsychic — Wed, 09 May 2007 21:41:56 -0800

Can I copy a button-down shirt I love? A few years ago I finally found a button-down shirt that I loved. It fit perfectly, which doesn't happen often, so I bought four of them. Now they are starting to show wear and come apart.

Are there places that can take apart these shirts and copy the pattern and make a new shirt for me? What can I expect to pay for something like this?

What does the internet look like?

hwickline — Sat, 05 May 2007 08:57:26 -0800

I'm looking for interesting visualizations of the internet: traffic patterns, affinity networks, what-have-you for a presentation on "Online Communications." Bonus points for movies, animation, and general coolness. I direct an organziation that teaches small nonprofits about how to work with the media, do their own PR, and generally communicate with their audiences better. I'm putting together our new "Online Communications" presentation, which will cover everything from "What kind of website do you need?" to "What tools are available for e-newsletters?"

What I'm looking for is maps, graphs, etc. to explain what the interet looks like, and in particular to help me discuss the concept of Network-Centric Advocacy-- basically how technology has made organizing groups of like-minded individuals much easier than it was previously.

What I'd love to find is something like this, only animating connections between web sites as opposed to page elements. Even better would be something like this except showing internet traffic (and yeah, I have no idea how that would actually work, I just know it's purty).

I've done some searching on AskMe and MeFi but haven't found anything exactly right, which makes me think it might not exist. I'm open to whatever you think would work to help explain these concepts, the cooler-looking the better. And so I turn to you AskMe-- what does the internet look like?

Pattern for Marimekko "clover" bag?

misterbrandt — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 09:49:00 -0800

I saw this Marimekko 'clover' bag at a friend's house recently, and I would love to make something similar (well, the more identical the better) for my wife. Ideally, I would prefer a pre-existing pattern. Failing that, I would also accept instructions for how to make an accurate pattern from my friend's bag without ripping all the seams out. Part of the reason that I like this bag in particular is because the panels are cut so the bag has a little "bulge" -- i.e. they are all cut in fairly complex shapes (and my guess is if I tried to guesstimate a pattern, it would look like crap. The devil is in the details, etc.)

(I have read this thread on clothing, patterns, and copyright, but since this is for my wife (not for resale) I am not concerned about the issue of copying Marimekko's pattern. Unless you think I should be...

So: pattern? Or pattern-making tips?

Pattern Matching

jason's_planet — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 12:36:51 -0800

FashionFilter: How do I match patterns? I can work with color pretty well but patterns are a mystery to me. One of my resolutions for this New Year is to start dating again. Another resolution is to get back into the job market. In both cases, appearances matter. So I’d like to upgrade my look a little and learn how to dress. One of the things I’d like to learn a little more about is pattern matching. I have a decent eye for color so I usually manage to avoid embarrassing myself in that department. But matching patterns is a total mystery to me. Stripes, plaids . . . I have no clue what looks good with what.

(One example of what I’m talking about would be matching the pattern of a shirt to the pattern of a tie. That’s the first one that comes to mind.)

So does anyone out there have any advice on how to match patterns? Or can you recommend any good sources for advice on how to match patterns? It could be a book. It could be a website. A TV show (on DVD). An online forum. I’m not picky. As long as the source knows what he or she is talking about, I’ll listen.

Many thanks in advance.

WebDesign Filter: Is there a site that has a collection of basic page layouts that I can browse and choose from, a la the Noodle Incident's CSS box workaround page?

rmm — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 20:41:53 -0800

WebDesign Filter: Is there a site that has a collection of basic page layouts that I can browse and choose from, a la the Noodle Incident's CSS box workaround page? hello fellow web heads,

I've fascinated by patterns in GUI design, and regularily use the excellent book The Design of Sites for inspiration. I'm wondering if there's a basic equivalent of it online. For instance, if you're creating a CSS based layout from scratch, Owen Briggs 's "Little Boxes" page gives you a good basic 'gallery' of sample layouts - are there any other sites like his out there for general web design? Something that would have thumbnails of various page types ('sitemap', 'FAQ', 'gallery' - general page types). It's not so much the code as just having some sort of gallery which you can have as a reference.

Hope this is a clear enough question - thanks for any help!

Vintage Clothing Needed, Stat!

Medieval Maven — Fri, 07 Apr 2006 05:51:21 -0800

I need to find good thrift stores (or just not expensive stores) in Atlanta that sell late fifties to early sixties clothing (vintage or restyled, as long as the restyling isn't too weird). We are also planning to hit Athens, Georgia looking for the same stuff, so anything there will be helpful as well. This is for a play, so we will need men's and women's clothing in a variety of sizes. Some of the scenes are suit-worthy (for the girls, the Jackie Kennedy look) and the rest of it is fairly "weekend at Hyannisport." We sort of want to avoid sewing but will do it if we really have to, so anywhere (local or good price online) that sells vintage patterns isn't totally out of the question. I know about ebay and rustyzipper.com (I've been googling), but in this realm I'm really looking for reccomendations as to any pattern provider you've used that has delivered, both in the sense of quality and timeliness.

Retro patterns and designs

disillusioned — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 20:11:57 -0800

Where can I find patterns similar to this? I'm looking for retro- and solid patterns with good geometry and curves and fun shapes that I can use to add texture to web page headers and to site backgrounds. Multi-tonal, colorful designs are good, but I'm not sure what exactly to search for in Google Images and the like to garner this sort of result. (I got this design off the back off a Microsoft Xbox business card.)

Any suggestions and links to high-res shots get bonus points, but whatever you can throw to me would be fantastic.

Thanks!

Knitted sweater pattern: why can't I find you?

LunaticFringe — Thu, 05 Jan 2006 11:00:44 -0800

SweaterFilter: I am searching for a specific pattern for a knitted sweater similar to this. I see these types of sweaters around and I'm sure patterns for them exist. Unfortunately, I've had a hard time finding one. My goal is to get the basic pattern and change it slightly to customize the images on it (although I kinda like the squirrel motif). I'm not looking to buy the sweater but rather to make it on my own (and one for a friend).

I have the impression that these were extremely popular in the 60's and have memories of seeing many different patterns (such as deer, moose, ducks, eagles, etc) on the same style of sweater. If not a pattern then just the name of this style of sweater so I can ask the staff at my local knitting shop for more info?

Regular expression question

xmutex — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 11:44:03 -0800

RegexFilter: I want to strip out all HTML from a string except for approved tags of B and I. I have this pattern : "< (p|img)*?>" Which strips out any instance of P or IMG tags, but I want to reverse it... I want to say only allow B or I. I tried this: "< ^(b|i)*?>" thinking that mean any character NOT in the group b or i, but no go. Any tips before I go insane?

Pattern for velvet skirt

Sara Anne — Mon, 03 Oct 2005 10:27:18 -0800

Where can I find a good pattern for a velvet skirt? I bought a gorgeous remnant of searingly blue velvet, and I want to make a skirt. Can anyone recommend a good pattern? I'd like to make it an a-line. Also links to free pattern sites would be nice, as well as tips for sewing velvet.

TV error screen?

Count Ziggurat — Sat, 19 Feb 2005 17:46:20 -0800

Is there a name for the multi-coloured TV error screen? You know, the one with colourful blocks. Traditionally accompanied with a long beep. Sort of looks like this only not really.
Anyone know what it's called?