Month: August 2024

In a purple square thumbnail, we read the words "Free Patterns!" slanted at an angle beside the photo of a Taylee Turtle from Enchantimals. The doll wears a white shirt and a purple floral skirt.
4-inch doll clothes patterns, 5-inch doll clothes patterns, Disney Princess Dolls, Mini Anna Dolls, Mini Elsa Dolls, Whole Costumes for Dolls

Sew a skirt and top for Enchantimals dolls w/today’s free PDF sewing patterns @ ChellyWood.com #Sewing #BackToSchool

Your free, printable patterns will be found after the second set of bullets. I first posted these patterns for the Anna and Elsa Frozen mini dolls, but as you can see, they also fit the Enchantimals dolls, although the skirt is a bit short on her. For the elastic on this teeny-tiny skirt, I used a cord style of elastic instead of braided elastic. To … Continue reading Sew a skirt and top for Enchantimals dolls w/today’s free PDF sewing patterns @ ChellyWood.com #Sewing #BackToSchool

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On a purple background, a woman's hand holds up a yellow card with a blue stripe running down the left side. At the top of the bleu stripe, the Dritz logo appears as white logo image and text on top of a black background. The card holds 10 of the 12 sew-on snaps that were originally place on the card. Two of the snap locations are now vacated and holes are punched through the card where the snaps would have been.
Crafts and Hobbies, For Sale in the Store, Tips for Beginners

How to Sew Snaps (AKA Poppers) With a Hole in the Middle #Sewing #DollClothes

I’ve had a similar video available on my website for quite some time, but it wasn’t until recently that I realized my original “How to Sew Snaps on Doll Clothes” tutorial video doesn’t have any voiceover. So today’s blog post is going to catch that video up with new technology. As I’ve said before, by adding voiceover to my older tutorials, I’m making them easier … Continue reading How to Sew Snaps (AKA Poppers) With a Hole in the Middle #Sewing #DollClothes

Chelly Wood2 Comments
The thumbnail reads "free patterns" and shows a photo of a 6 inch Disney Princess (Elsa) doll wearing a handmade T-shirt with a pretty floral skirt.
6-inch doll clothes patterns, Disney Princess Dolls, Whole Costumes for Dolls

Let’s make a simple T-shirt and a tiny skirt for 6 inch Disney Princess dolls with today’s free PDF sewing patterns! #DisneyPrincess #CraftyMom

Scroll down to the second set of bullets to download the free printable PDF sewing pattern.* Today’s doll clothes will fit a wide variety of tiny dolls, but for today’s blog post, I want to focus on the six inch Disney Princess dolls in particular. I have a 6 inch Elsa doll, which I’m using as a model in the picture above, but I first … Continue reading Let’s make a simple T-shirt and a tiny skirt for 6 inch Disney Princess dolls with today’s free PDF sewing patterns! #DisneyPrincess #CraftyMom

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The text reads, "The History of Dolls" and the image shows a brown history book with cover art that shows paper dolls, a rag doll, a voodoo doll, a nutcracker, a Japanese peg doll, and a row of Russian stacking dolls. The ChellyWood.com logo appears in the lower right-hand corner. This thumbnail will be used during the month of July, 2024,to show that we're learning about the history of dolls this month. Be advised that the same thumbnail will be used throughout this series study of the history of dolls from around the world.
2 Enchanting 2B True -- Doll Pics, Crafts and Hobbies, Doll Collecting, History and Research, Links

What would a Victorian era doll look like if it was never played with? Meet… “Annie” #AmericanDoll #3

You read that title correctly. This doll was never played with! Affectionately called “Annie,” this doll, which stands 21 inches tall, was won by a man named Joseph J. Rand, at a fair. Having no children of his own, this doll was never, ever played with. Eventually it was donated to the DAR Museum in Washington DC, and as we’ve learned in previous “doll history” … Continue reading What would a Victorian era doll look like if it was never played with? Meet… “Annie” #AmericanDoll #3

Chelly Wood2 Comments
Here we see the Chelly Wood doll from the ChellyWood.com website and the ChellyWood1 YouTube channel. She holds up a sewing pattern for 18 inch doll clothes. The pattern's cover 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.
Interviews With Crafters, Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection, Tips for Beginners, Tutorials: Sewing Basics

How to Tell When a Sewing Pattern Is NOT for Beginners (Part 1) #SewingForDolls #Handmade

I started sewing doll clothes when I was very young, back in the early 1970’s, but I didn’t really learn how to read patterns and pattern instructions until I was about 10 or 12. Reading the instructions on the back of a pattern can seem daunting to a child who is learning to sew, and therefore I don’t advise it for kids under age 10. … Continue reading How to Tell When a Sewing Pattern Is NOT for Beginners (Part 1) #SewingForDolls #Handmade

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The image shows a sewing machine with a tiny pink swatch of fabric between the presser foot and the feed dogs. Thread, bobbins, and other sewing tools are scattered around a white table top near the sewing machine's base. This image represents Chelly's sewing room while she recovers from West Nile Virus.
Crafts and Hobbies, Fan Mail, Sewing Chat, Tips for Beginners, Tutorials: Sewing Basics

How do you finish off your seams? — Please comment! #SewingTips #SewingChat

For today’s “Doll Clothes Sewing Chat,” let’s talk about finishing off a seam. Personally, I use a backstitch, so I’m going to define what that means to me before we get the chat underway… DEFINITION: A backstitch is when you stitch in one direction, you stitch backwards from there, and then you stitch in the forward direction again. This can be done by hand or … Continue reading How do you finish off your seams? — Please comment! #SewingTips #SewingChat

Chelly Wood9 Comments
On a purple background, a woman's hand holds up a yellow card with a blue stripe running down the left side. At the top of the bleu stripe, the Dritz logo appears as white logo image and text on top of a black background. The card holds 10 of the 12 sew-on snaps that were originally place on the card. Two of the snap locations are now vacated and holes are punched through the card where the snaps would have been.
Crafts and Hobbies, For Sale in the Store, Tips for Beginners, Tutorials: Sewing Basics

How to Sew Snaps (AKA Poppers) on Doll Clothes Part 1 –when the snap doesn’t have a hole in the middle #Sewing #DollClothes

Today’s tutorial is an upgraded version of a concept I’ve covered here on ChellyWood.com before. I don’t know if you’ve noticed this, but Dritz snaps sometimes have a hole running through the middle of them (which used to be essential for sewing on snaps), but lately they seem to be making them so you can’t slide a straight pin inside the little hole–if there even … Continue reading How to Sew Snaps (AKA Poppers) on Doll Clothes Part 1 –when the snap doesn’t have a hole in the middle #Sewing #DollClothes

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In this purple thumbnail image, we see an African American Mattel Stacie doll (9 inches tall) wearing a handmade pair of black and white check gingham shorts under a cute swingy orange tank top (vest in the UK). She also wears little white ballet flats. This image is overlaid with the words "free pattern." Please go to Chelly Wood dot com to download and print your free PDF sewing pattern for making these summer clothes which should fit your Mattel Stacie dolls.
9-inch Dolls, Stacie Patterns, Whole Costumes for Dolls

Make a swingy crop top and Shorts for Mattel’s Stacie dolls with today’s free PDF sewing patterns @ ChellyWood.com

Please scroll down to the second set of bullets for the free printable PDF sewing patterns and links to any additional relevant tutorial videos. Today’s project is a swingy summer top and a pair of elastic waist shorts, which will fit Mattel’s Stacie dolls. The Stacie doll modeling the outfit is my lovely African American Stacie, but the outfit will fit any 9 inch Mattel … Continue reading Make a swingy crop top and Shorts for Mattel’s Stacie dolls with today’s free PDF sewing patterns @ ChellyWood.com

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The text reads, "The History of Dolls" and the image shows a brown history book with cover art that shows paper dolls, a rag doll, a voodoo doll, a nutcracker, a Japanese peg doll, and a row of Russian stacking dolls. The ChellyWood.com logo appears in the lower right-hand corner. This thumbnail will be used during the month of July, 2024,to show that we're learning about the history of dolls this month. Be advised that the same thumbnail will be used throughout this series study of the history of dolls from around the world.
2 Enchanting 2B True -- Doll Pics, Crafts and Hobbies, Doll Collecting, History and Research, Links

The mystery of the pen wiper seated doll… #AmericanDoll #2

We’re going to refer to the doll shown above as the “Pen-wiper” doll because the little black felt pad she’s seated upon is what’s called a pen-wiper. Back in the 1800’s people used what we think of today as calligraphy-style pens to write letters and correspondences. The black felt circle, with its “circular pieces of layered felt and silk” (1) would have been used to … Continue reading The mystery of the pen wiper seated doll… #AmericanDoll #2

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With a quilted frame around it, we see a section of a McCall's vintage fashion doll clothes sewing pattern for making a cape that will fit a fashion doll like Barbie and similar-sized dolls.
Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection, Uncategorized

What are the best patterns for Fashion Doll capes? #DollClothesPatterns #ToyCollectors

Fall is right around the corner, so we’ll need to keep our little dolls warm. A coat is easy enough to make, but capes are usually even easier! Before you read on, please note that many of my links are affiliate marketing links. To learn more about this, please see my Privacy Policy page. Thank you! You’ll notice, that in the image of Simplicity 8466 … Continue reading What are the best patterns for Fashion Doll capes? #DollClothesPatterns #ToyCollectors

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The thumbnail image shows a purple patch sewn onto a turquoise cloth. The words "doll clothes sewing chat" are written in the center of the purple patch. Floating in a circle around the patch are graphics of various sewing notions, from scissors, to a tape measure, to bobbins, to thread, and more. This feature on Chelly Wood dot com, is an open discussion about a sewing concept. The article will begin with a definition of the sewing concept, and then a discussion question will follow. This is a great place for people to ask questions about and/or give advice on sewing concepts related to making doll clothes.
Crafts and Hobbies, Doll Measurements, Sewing Chat, Tips for Beginners, Tutorials: Sewing Basics

Do you ever alter seam allowances? And has that worked out okay for you? #SewingChat #SewingVocabulary

For today’s “Doll Clothes Sewing Chat,” let’s talk about seam allowances. Just in case you’re new to sewing, it’s not a bad idea to start with a quick overview of seam allowances… DEFINITION: A seam allowance is a bit of extra room that’s given along the edge of a pattern, to allow for the sewist to include seams in a garment and still have it … Continue reading Do you ever alter seam allowances? And has that worked out okay for you? #SewingChat #SewingVocabulary

Chelly Wood6 Comments
In a purple frame with tiny white polka dots, we see a little 8 inch Bratz doll modeling an A-line dress with flutter sleeves. The text reads "free patterns!" Please visit ChellyWood.com to download and print your free printable PDF sewing patterns for making this and other dolls' clothes.
10-inch doll clothes patterns, 8-inch doll clothes patterns, 9-inch Dolls, Bratz Dolls, Whole Costumes for Dolls

Today we’re making a little A-line dress with flutter sleeves for Bratz dolls! #FreePatterns #Bratz

Please scroll down to the second set of bullets for the free printable PDF sewing patterns and links to any additional relevant tutorial videos. Yes, as the heading states, today I’ll be showing you how to make this lovely little A-line dress with flutter-style sleeves, and it will fit Bratz dolls along with a wide variety of other dolls in the 8-inch, 9-inch, and even … Continue reading Today we’re making a little A-line dress with flutter sleeves for Bratz dolls! #FreePatterns #Bratz

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Here we see the African American Ken doll next to the Lammily Traveler doll with her beautiful natural hair Afro. They are dressed in traditional African clothing, including a fez, a shawl/poncho, and other garments made of African print fabrics. This image was part of a Kwanzaa celebration at ChellyWood.com and is being revisited today to celebrate Black Business Month (August). It's a great image of any African heritage holiday celebrations.
12-inch doll clothes patterns, Daily Patterns, Holiday Crafts, Ken Patterns, Lammily Doll Patterns, Whole Costumes for Dolls

August is Black Business Month! Let’s make some African-style doll clothes patterns today! #BlackBusinessMonth #Sewing

Scroll down to the second set of bullets for the free PDF sewing patterns. Yes, as it says in the title of today’s blog post, August is Black Business month. What better way to celebrate this month’s theme, than to re-post these patterns with an African American theme? This set of patterns was first posted here on chellyWood.com to celebrate Kwanzaa, but that was a … Continue reading August is Black Business Month! Let’s make some African-style doll clothes patterns today! #BlackBusinessMonth #Sewing

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The text reads, "The History of Dolls" and the image shows a brown history book with cover art that shows paper dolls, a rag doll, a voodoo doll, a nutcracker, a Japanese peg doll, and a row of Russian stacking dolls. The ChellyWood.com logo appears in the lower right-hand corner. This thumbnail will be used during the month of July, 2024,to show that we're learning about the history of dolls this month. Be advised that the same thumbnail will be used throughout this series study of the history of dolls from around the world.
2 Enchanting 2B True -- Doll Pics, Crafts and Hobbies, Doll Collecting, History and Research, Links

The history of the corn husk doll (AKA cornhusk dolls) #AmericanDoll #1

The doll in the image above is what’s known as a cornhusk doll (sometimes spelled as two words: corn husk doll), and they are so called because, well… they’re made from corn husks. This one is housed at the DAR Museum in Washington DC, and it dates back to the mid-19th century, so if you’re participating in the history challenge, you can give it a … Continue reading The history of the corn husk doll (AKA cornhusk dolls) #AmericanDoll #1

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With a purple and turquoise fabric quilt frame, we see see two doll clothes patterns for Mattel Skipper dolls inside the frame with a woman's torso over the top. The woman, who wears a yellow blouse, has her hands up and her shoulders shrugging, with a curious look on her face. There are question marks dancing around her. The ChellyWood.com logo appears to the side of these images.
10-inch doll clothes patterns, 9-inch Dolls, Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection, Skipper Patterns, Tutorials: Sewing Basics

Not all Skipper patterns are alike! #BuyerBeware #DollClothesPatterns

As the heading for today’s blog post states, “Not all Skipper patterns are alike!” And that’s the overall theme for today’s post. However, before I begin talking about the subtle differences between the many renditions of the Skipper doll, please note, many of my links in today’s blog post are affiliate links. To learn more about my affiliate marketing program, please go to my Privacy … Continue reading Not all Skipper patterns are alike! #BuyerBeware #DollClothesPatterns

Chelly Wood6 Comments