Since this blog has been growing (I just reached 2 million hits), it’s no longer fair to call it a personal journal. Lately I think of it as a small business. So it’s time to request permission to use names and images of dolls that have trademarks.
Don’t panic, everyone! I’ve already been given formal permission from two doll companies, and one of them is a 1:6 scale fashion doll: the Queens of Africa dolls. So doll clothes patterns of that size will definitely keep appearing on ChellyWood.com in the future, no matter what the future holds (although I hope that more doll companies will climb aboard too).
After posting images of the World of Love dolls this week, you may be wondering… do I have formal permission to use Hasbro‘s World of Love dolls in this week’s patterns, tutorials, and blog posts? Well, not exactly…
There’s a difference with the World of Love dolls; the Hasbro toy company no longer produces these dolls, so their company really has no vested interest in them. That’s why I feel settled with the idea of posting patterns for these dolls (even though I have not yet gained their formal approval–which makes me a little uncomfortable).
Although they’re no longer for sale in stores, the World of Love dolls are Hasbro products; not mine. That’s why I include a link to the Hasbro company website with each blog posting (as often as I can remember to do so), to honor their trademark. I’ve also sent them a formal request to approve my use of their dolls on this site and in my YouTube tutorials.
However with other doll companies — especially companies that sell clothes for their dolls — it may hurt their company’s pocketbook to have people all over the world downloading free patterns for doll clothes that fit their dolls.
I’ve requested permission to use images of dolls from a dozen different companies, so when they review those requests and get back to me, this website may need to go through a metamorphosis of some kind.
It’s my sincere hope that doll companies big and small will work with me to help me create sewing patterns that do not hurt their companies’ sales. In fact, I’m hoping that my patterns and toy company links will encourage everyday people to buy more dolls!
But until I hear back from the doll companies I’ve written to, I may be posting a lot more patterns for vintage dolls–those dolls whose companies are defunct or the companies no longer produce any dolls in that line–along with patterns for dolls that were made by the two companies that have already given me permission to use their dolls.
I hope the doll companies are receptive to your request. Part of the enjoyment of playing with dolls is the creativity of sewing for them. Dolls aren’t just toys though. They are useful tools in which young girls, (and boys) can learn about sewing, nurturing, role modeling, and reading as well. My boys read to their stuffed dolls and toys along with the hard bodied dolls. One son confiscated one of my Barbie type dolls. He cut off all her hair and made a mold of her face. At first I was horrified. But I soon realized that boys have a need to be creative as well as girls. As a hobby, he is now an accomplished re-painter of dolls on the 1:6 scale. As well as a collector. I’ve learned to knit sweaters for dolls because his interest. Also, recently, because of health issues, I was unable to make the doll outfits that I wanted to give my great-nieces for their birthdays. Because I know the value of my time as well as the cost of materials involved, I purchased outfits for their dolls.
Thank you for your comment. I agree that sewing for dolls has always been my own impetus for buying more of them. Even as a child, I saw my dolls as toys that needed a wardrobe!