Month: July 2023

The image shows Simplicity 18" doll clothes pattern #4654 which includes patterns for making a lined hooded raincoat or coverup, a tank top and skort, a short-sleeved everyday dress, a sunny sleeveless top with capri pants, a T-shirt with cargo pants, and a crop top with skort or shorts. There's also an 18-inch doll pictured on the pattern wearing a denim jumper with overall straps. The doll wears a striped tee shirt under the overall-style jumper. (This is "jumper" in the US sense of the word -- not a "sweater" as we'd say in the US, but more of a dress with the style of overalls). The watermark on this photo reminds us to visit ChellyWood.com for free, printable sewing patterns for making doll clothes to fit dolls of many shapes and all different sizes. This image also has a header that says, "Today's topic of discussion: what makes a pattern difficult for beginners?" And in fact, if you navigate to the link to the article that accompanies this image, doll clothing designer, YouTuber, and writer Chelly Wood discusses all the features that make this particular pattern difficult for a beginner who is just learning to sew. This article is designed to help anyone who teaches sewing classes, is teaching another person how to sew, or people who are, themselves, just learning to sew, what to avoid when purchasing store-bought patterns.
18-inch doll clothes patterns, Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection, Tips for Beginners

Learning to sew with 18 inch doll clothes pattern Simplicity 4654 #Sewing #DollClothesPatterns

When I first uploaded this photo, it was part of a series that answered the question, “How can you tell when a pattern is not for beginners?” People often think that sewing for a bigger doll will be easier than sewing for a smaller doll, but that’s not always true. With Simplicity 4654, you would be sewing for an 18 inch doll — usually a … Continue reading Learning to sew with 18 inch doll clothes pattern Simplicity 4654 #Sewing #DollClothesPatterns

Chelly Wood2 Comments
The images show thread spools, a stack of felt, folded fabrics, and a clipboard upon which is a drawing of a dress. Next to the clipboard is a pencil. These are things Chelly Wood has toyed around with doing, as she recovers from West Nile Virus.
Crafts and Hobbies, Interviews With Crafters, Links, Yarn and Embroidery

Where to Shop for Fabric in Paris

Do you ever wonder what the fashion capital of the world has to offer to a sewist? Well, Paris is not called the “fashion capital of the world” without a good reason. In the summer of 2016, I had the wonderful opportunity to visit Paris with my daughter, and of course, I couldn’t miss the opportunity to shop for fabric while I was there! I’d … Continue reading Where to Shop for Fabric in Paris

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The image shows a cell phone, and on the cell phone is pictured the whole family of Littlechap dolls, a vintage family of doll by Remco. The text reads, "do a pick" followed by "the little chap family of dolls" on a purple background with a blue, green, and yellow cloud or rainbow background.
Do a Pick! Game, Doll Play Videos, Littlechap Dolls

Let’s “do a pick” with the Littlechap Family of vintage dolls! #DoApick #vintageDollCollector

The Littlechap Family of dolls includes: Doctor John Littlechap His wife, Lisa Littlechap Their teenage daughter, Judy Littlechap Their younger daughter, Libby Littlechap What’s the story behind this game? When I was a kid, whenever it was playtime with dolls, we would lay out all our dolls and their clothing items. Then we would “do a pick.” That’s where you take turns picking which doll … Continue reading Let’s “do a pick” with the Littlechap Family of vintage dolls! #DoApick #vintageDollCollector

Chelly Wood2 Comments
On a blue background, we see a pair of yellow ankle pants for a very small doll -- handmade by Chelly Wood -- and the words "Summer projects!" This is a thumbnail for a blog post about summer sewing projects for people who enjoy sewing doll clothes.
Crafts and Hobbies, Holiday Crafts, Interviews With Crafters, Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection

What are you sewing this summer? Let’s share for inspiration! #Summer #Sewing

Let’s share! What are you working on this summer? What sewing projects do you have underway? Leave your summer sewing project descriptions in the comments section to give inspiration to everyone who reads this blog post! See the pile of vintage sewing patterns at the top of this post? That’s what I’ve been working on… I found all of these lovely uncut, vintage doll clothes … Continue reading What are you sewing this summer? Let’s share for inspiration! #Summer #Sewing

Chelly Wood10 Comments
For the fourth of July, 2023, this thumbnail with its pale blue background says, "free pattern" over the top of the ChellyWood.com logo. Beside the text is an image of a Stacie doll from the 1980's modeling a red circle skirt and a white T-shirt. She raises her hand in a wave. Behind her is an American Flag mini quilt.
9-inch Dolls, Daily Patterns, Holiday Crafts, Stacie Patterns, Vintage Skipper, Whole Costumes for Dolls

Let’s make a circle skirt w/eyelet trim for 1980’s Stacie dolls w/free patterns @ ChellyWood.com #DollClothes

Please scroll down to the second set of bullets for the free printable PDF sewing pattern and links to any additional relevant tutorial videos. Today’s circle skirt project  with eyelet trim was first published here on ChellyWood.com for vintage Skipper, but it also fits modern Stacie dolls, as well as these older Stacie dolls from the 1980’s. I’m publishing it again, with a little different T-shirt … Continue reading Let’s make a circle skirt w/eyelet trim for 1980’s Stacie dolls w/free patterns @ ChellyWood.com #DollClothes

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In this image, the Chelly Wood doll (a Spin Master Liv doll with a Chelly Wood makeover) holds up the McCalls Crafts pattern number 5462. The image is framed by a blue and purple quilt.
Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection, Vintage Barbie

Learning to sew with McCall’s vintage Barbie doll clothes pattern 5462 #sewingalterations #DollClothesPatterns

Back in May, I did a whole series of blog posts on the shirts from McCall’s 5462 Barbie and Ken doll clothes patterns from the 1980’s. Believe it or not, the shirts in views G and B are tremendously easy to sew and to make alterations to. Why? You don’t have to attach a sleeve! But I’ve actually written other blog posts on this versatile … Continue reading Learning to sew with McCall’s vintage Barbie doll clothes pattern 5462 #sewingalterations #DollClothesPatterns

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