Extending the Width of a Collection Header: A Journey into the World of Online Artisan Candle Shops

You know, in the wild world of web development, there’s always this simple image that pops into my mind. It’s of us, both night owls and early risers, huddled over bright screens while clutching oversized mugs of coffee (or maybe tea if that’s your poison). The glow from the monitor highlights the gleam in our eyes as we stare at a problem like an unsolvable riddle—but spoiler alert—it isn’t. We're constantly trying to make the digital landscape just that little bit more beautiful and functional.

I was there not long ago, fumbling with a collection page—let’s call it the “candles situation”—where the description section just wouldn’t budge to fill its rightful space across the page. Almost like trying to spread cold butter over bread—it just curls up and defies you. But then, in a moment befitting a feel-good epiphany montage, we find a way. Let’s share how we can extend that stubborn collection header to relax and stretch—it’s all about giving the right push in the right places.

Step One: Understanding the Problem

Before we jump into code—don’t run away yet, it’s not that scary—let's pinpoint the issue. Picture this: you have a collection description on your Shopify store. Maybe it’s a heartfelt backstory about soy-based, hand-poured candles made with love in Worcester. Yet, there it is—squashed to one side, taking up minimal space. It's almost like the description is shy, hesitant to embrace its full width—you know what I mean?

Step Two: Dive into Liquid: The Magical Elixir

Time for some exploring. Shopify uses a language called Liquid as its templating engine—oh, sweet Liquid, full of possibilities. The collection page can be customized through this. First, we will need to head over to the Shopify admin panel. Don your digital spelunking hat and venture to Online Store > Themes > Actions > Edit Code.

Within this coded realm, navigate through the templates folder and open the collection.liquid file. It might feel like opening a tome of ancient magic, but trust me, it's more approachable than it seems.

Step Three: CSS - The Stylish Tailor

Here’s where the tailoring begins. The goal is to nudge that description box, encouraging it to grow and fill the space. Add a touch of custom CSS to work the charm. In your stylesheet, either styles.css or whatever the theme calls its styling file, add something akin to this:

.collection-description {
  max-width: 100%;
  width: 100%;
  text-align: center; /* Centering it feels more... zen, doesn't it? */
}

You’re telling the collection description: “Hey, there’s a whole page out here! Feel free to stretch your legs.” Of course, you can tweak the alignment to fit your store’s vibe—right-aligned if that feels right, but we’re big on centering today.

Step Four: Checking the Work

This is the moment—like the first flicker when lighting one of those very candles you've crafted page space for. Save those changes, refresh the page, and behold. Feel that warm sense of satisfaction. The description should now expand gloriously across the page.

Step Five: A Hint of JavaScript (Optional)

Some of us enjoy that extra layer of complexity—a slight zest of JavaScript for good measure. If so, you might want to add a script that dynamically adjusts the collection header’s width depending on the screen size:

;(function () {
  const description = document.querySelector('.collection-description')
  if (description) {
    description.style.width = window.innerWidth < 768 ? '90%' : '100%'
  }
})()

Add this snippet to your theme’s JavaScript file. It’s like handing the description box a pair of stretchy pants—comfortably snug, adapting as needed.

Step Six: Reflecting on Craftsmanship

Ah, what a journey it’s been! There's something profoundly satisfying in seeing beautifully presented candor and stories about candles—pun fully intended—finally showcased appropriately. As we wrap up, let’s take a moment to appreciate the blend of art and technology, the human touch behind every candle-themed story, and the diligent craft of making it all come together online.

Let’s keep doing what we do best—creating happy, harmonious spaces online that showcase the wonderful things we can offer, one extended collection header at a time. Isn’t it splendid when the world is a tad more beautiful because of our lines of code? Until our next coding quest!