Month: February 2025

The thumbnail shows the words "Do a Pick" atop a cell phone that shows a close-up of blond Francie modeling Best Buy Fashion #8645. The text beside and slightly to the left reads "Playing Betty and Veronica from Archie comics." The #DoApick shorts offer a series of three items from a bygone Barbie or other doll's era, from which you and a friend might pick out toys and dolls and the dolls' outfits.
Do a Pick! Game, Doll Play Videos, Favorite Books, Vintage Barbie, Vintage Francie

Let’s Do a Pick — Barbie is Betty and Steffie is Veronica from Archie Comics! #DoApick #Archie

Today’s “Do a Pick” game features the following: Best Buy Fashion #8645 Best Buy Fashion #3347 Busy Steffie #3312 Malibu Barbie Blond Francie Vintage Archie Comic Books This “Do a Pick” game asks you to pick between dolls and outfits to play the characters of Betty and Veronica from the Archie comic books of the 1970’s. What’s the story behind this game? When I was … Continue reading Let’s Do a Pick — Barbie is Betty and Steffie is Veronica from Archie Comics! #DoApick #Archie

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Today's tutorial video explains how selvage is useful to people who sew doll clothes. This image is just a header indicating that this is a sewing tutorial for beginners.
Tips for Beginners, Tutorials: Sewing Basics

Selvage is your friend! (A tip for fabric buying, when sewing doll clothes) @ ChellyWood.com #SewingLove #SewingTutorial

    The video at the top of this blog post will explain how I sometimes use selvage (that’s “selvedge” if you live in the UK) for my doll clothes projects, and how selvage can truly be “your friend” when buying fabric. If you want a more extensive video about how to buy fabric for doll clothes, please click here. That’s an older video tutorial … Continue reading Selvage is your friend! (A tip for fabric buying, when sewing doll clothes) @ ChellyWood.com #SewingLove #SewingTutorial

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Thumbnail image shows Vintage Pedigree Sindy (brunette) modeling a pair of ankle-length purple trousers and a raglan-sleeved shirt. The text reads "free patterns" followed by an exclamation point. Get your free sewing patterns for Sindy's dolls' clothes at the website Chelly Wood dot com, which also offers patterns in A4 printer paper as well as American printer paper for the free patterns.
11-inch doll clothes patterns, A4 Printer PDF Patterns, Daily Patterns, Sindy, Whole Costumes for Dolls

Play dress up with your vintage Sindy doll after you sew these dolls’ clothes with free A4 PDF sewing patterns! #UKSewing #SewUK

For your free patterns and tutorial videos, please scroll down to the second set of bullets. All the doll clothes from this series have been made, using a child’s tee shirt from my local charity shop, Goodwill, and through these blog posts I hope to encourage you, my followers, to do the same. Re-use old materials! Let’s maintain the enthusiasm for recycling! It’s good for … Continue reading Play dress up with your vintage Sindy doll after you sew these dolls’ clothes with free A4 PDF sewing patterns! #UKSewing #SewUK

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Advance 9939 vintage Barbie doll clothes patterns (the envelope that the patterns come in) is shown with the Chelly Wood doll, framed in a quilted border. The text reads "Advance 9939 vintage Barbie patterns."
Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection, Vintage Barbie

A different way to make a pair of doll’s underpants… but is it easy? #SewingTips #VintageBarbie

Advance 9939 has a pair of bloomers that go with the View 4 ice skating outfit, but it also has a random pattern for a pair of so-called “panties” for Barbie as well. Now my regular followers know that my website, ChellyWood.com, offers free, printable PDF sewing patterns for making underpants for various dolls, from little Barbie dolls all the way up to the big … Continue reading A different way to make a pair of doll’s underpants… but is it easy? #SewingTips #VintageBarbie

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In a bright sky blue frame, a woman's hand holds a small cardboard which houses sew on snaps or poppers.
Crafts and Hobbies, For Sale in the Store, Tips for Beginners, Tutorials: Crafts, Tutorials: Sewing Basics, Tutorials: Sewing for Dolls

Let’s talk about snaps/poppers! (How to Sew Snap Fasteners Tutorial Video) #Crafting #Sewing

  Today’s tutorial video is simple enough. It shows you how to sew snap fasteners (AKA poppers) onto a doll’s shirt or coat. And yes, I’ve made tutorials on this topic before, but in the past, you had to choose: am I sewing snaps/poppers that have a hole in the middle? Or am I sewing snaps/poppers that DON’T have a hole in the middle? Today’s … Continue reading Let’s talk about snaps/poppers! (How to Sew Snap Fasteners Tutorial Video) #Crafting #Sewing

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Inside a purple frame, talk bubbles express Q for Questions and A for Answers. The text reads, "Sewing tips for beginners." This is a thumbnail for a Q and A blog post for beginners who are learning to sew and want to "pick the brain" of an experienced doll clothing designer, Chelly Wood.
Crafts and Hobbies, Interviews With Crafters, Sewing Chat, Tips for Beginners, Tutorials: Sewing Basics

Do you have any questions you would like Chelly Wood to answer in a future blog post? Please join the #SewingChat !

Today I’m going to address the fifth and final question from Kim, one of my followers who is learning to sew. In my email dialog with Kim, she asked a number of questions about learning to sew, and specifically learning to design her own doll clothes. Her questions delved into whether the paid courses I offer are going to help her in her quest to … Continue reading Do you have any questions you would like Chelly Wood to answer in a future blog post? Please join the #SewingChat !

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Thumbnail text reads "Free patterns!" with a photo of Pedigree Sindy modeling handmade summer clothes including a vest (tank top) and matching elastic-waist skirt.
11-inch doll clothes patterns, A4 Printer PDF Patterns, Daily Patterns, Sindy, Whole Costumes for Dolls

How to make a pretty skirt and top for Pedigree Sindy w/free sewing patterns @ ChellyWood.com #PedigreeSindy #Sewing

For your free patterns and tutorial videos, please scroll down to the second set of bullets. If you’re not familiar with Pedigree Sindy, please go back and read the blog posts from Monday the 3rd and Monday the 10th of June, 2024. She’s a fun doll to learn about! In a nutshell, back in “the day,” Sindy was far more popular than Barbie in the … Continue reading How to make a pretty skirt and top for Pedigree Sindy w/free sewing patterns @ ChellyWood.com #PedigreeSindy #Sewing

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The Chelly Wood doll stands beside the Simplicity 4510 vintage Barbie pattern envelope. The Chelly Wood doll looks like she's holding up the envelope. The Chelly Wood doll wears a red and white gingham shirt with matching hair scarf, and a pair of black pants with black flats. The image has a quilted frame.
Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection, Vintage Barbie

The Walkaway Dress Pattern for Vintage Barbie: Simplicity 4510, View 4 #VintageSewing #WalkawayDress

You’ve probably seen the challenge on YouTube and all the love-it or hate-it sewists who’ve given their two bits about the “Walkaway Dress,” in various human sizes. It has been an internet sensation! But what about Barbie? If the “Walkaway Dress” was such a hot item in the 1950’s, did they ever design one for Barbie dolls? Have a look at the View 4 dress … Continue reading The Walkaway Dress Pattern for Vintage Barbie: Simplicity 4510, View 4 #VintageSewing #WalkawayDress

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A vintage Pedigree Sindy doll models a pair of handmade knickers and a handmade vest or tank top. The text reads, "free pattern" and in fact, when you visit Chelly Wood dot com, you'll find free doll clothes patterns for these lingerie items and other free sewing patterns for vintage Pedigree Sindy and similar sized dolls.
11-inch doll clothes patterns, A4 Printer PDF Patterns, Daily Patterns, Holiday Crafts, Sindy, Tammy Doll Patterns, Whole Costumes for Dolls

Sew a vest (tank top) for Pedigree Sindy dolls with today’s free A4 and American PDF sewing patterns #ValentinesDay #Lingerie

For your free patterns and tutorial videos for making this vest/summer top, please scroll down to the second set of bullets. If you’re not familiar with Pedigree Sindy, please go back and read the blog posts from Monday the 3rd and Monday the 10th of June, 2024. She’s a fun doll to learn about! In a nutshell, back in “the day,” Sindy was far more … Continue reading Sew a vest (tank top) for Pedigree Sindy dolls with today’s free A4 and American PDF sewing patterns #ValentinesDay #Lingerie

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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, Creative Spark Online Learning, Fan Mail, Favorite Books, Tips for Beginners, Tutorials: Sewing Basics

Can I teach myself to sew online, or do I need an in-person instructor? #Sewing #Tutorials

I’m back with another question from Kim, a follower who reached out to me a few weeks ago with a series of questions that beginners sometimes have when they’re learning to sew. In essence, Kim wanted to know if she could teach herself to sew, or whether or not an in-person instructor would be needed. I will address my answer to Kim’s question below the … Continue reading Can I teach myself to sew online, or do I need an in-person instructor? #Sewing #Tutorials

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A black Barbie models an orange raglan-sleeved cotton shirt and an orange gingham check cotton pencil skirt. The text reads "free pattern!"
11-inch doll clothes patterns, A4 Printer PDF Patterns, Barbie Patterns, Daily Patterns, Holiday Crafts, Tutorials: Sewing for Dolls

Easy Barbie clothes to sew with FREE A4 sewing patterns! #UKsewing #UKcrafter

For your free patterns and tutorial videos, please scroll down to the second set of bullets. I posted this pattern set in November of 2024, but since then, I’ve converted the pattern to A4 printer paper (for people living in the UK and many other countries, where A4 is the standard printer paper). I first converted this pattern to A4, to use it with my … Continue reading Easy Barbie clothes to sew with FREE A4 sewing patterns! #UKsewing #UKcrafter

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A quilted frame surrounds text and a photo of a Monster High doll wearing a Valentine's Day skirt with a sleeveless top, and the envelope for the Advance 9939 doll clothes sewing patterns for vintage Barbie dolls. The text reads "Advance 9939 fits Monster High?" The Chelly Wood doll clothes pattern website logo sits in the lower right corner of the framed image.
Holiday Crafts, Monster High Doll Clothes Patterns, Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection, Vintage Barbie

Pleats in this Valentine’s Day skirt made the whole thing too skinny for Barbie! Ugh! #EpicFail #SewingFail

Once again, I’ve been trying to tackle vintage Barbie doll clothes sewing pattern Advance 9939, and today I’m writing about the struggles I’ve had with the View 1 A-line skirt. It’s the pattern in the image above that does NOT have an arrow pointing toward it. First, let me say that the instructions for making this skirt are sweet and adorable, but not particularly helpful. … Continue reading Pleats in this Valentine’s Day skirt made the whole thing too skinny for Barbie! Ugh! #EpicFail #SewingFail

Chelly Wood5 Comments
Pedigree Sindy stands on a white platform, wearing a purple outfit including a shirt and pencil skirt made of lilac jersey fabric. The text reads "free Patterns!" just above the Chelly Wood dot com free doll clothes sewing pattern website logo.
11-inch doll clothes patterns, A4 Printer PDF Patterns, Daily Patterns, Sindy, Whole Costumes for Dolls

Expand your Sindy doll’s wardrobe with these free patterns and easy sewing tutorials! #UKSewing #SewUK

For your free patterns and tutorial videos, please scroll down to the second set of bullets. All the doll clothes from this series have been made, using a child’s tee shirt from my local charity shop, Goodwill, and through these blog posts I hope to encourage you, my followers, to do the same. Re-use old materials! Let’s maintain the enthusiasm for recycling! It’s good for … Continue reading Expand your Sindy doll’s wardrobe with these free patterns and easy sewing tutorials! #UKSewing #SewUK

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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, Creative Spark Online Learning, Fan Mail, Interviews With Crafters, Sewing Chat, Tips for Beginners

Do you HAVE to know how to read a sewing pattern? #SewingForBeginners #QandA

Two weeks ago I posted the first of a series of questions from one of my followers, Kim. Today’s blog post addresses the third of Kim’s questions, and today I’ll be addressing her question and my answer here, on ChellyWood.com, as the third blog post in a four-part blog post series. Before I do that, though, I need to make my official “Affiliate Marketing Disclaimer” … Continue reading Do you HAVE to know how to read a sewing pattern? #SewingForBeginners #QandA

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A Pedigree Sindy doll with long brown hair models a handmade graphic tee shirt with a pair of matching trousers. The text reads "Free pattern!" and gives the logo for Chelly Wood dot com.
11-inch doll clothes patterns, A4 Printer PDF Patterns, Daily Patterns, Sindy, Whole Costumes for Dolls

Create stylish trousers and a fashionable shirt for your Pedigree Sindy dolls using today’s free clothing patterns! #PedigreeSindy #VintageUK

For your free trousers and tee shirt patterns, along with additional tutorial videos, please scroll down to the second set of bullets. I recently made a trip to my local second-hand store/charity shop, Goodwill, where I bought a child’s shirt. Then I used the shirt to make a pair of trousers for my Pedigree Sindy doll, along with several other items of clothing in a … Continue reading Create stylish trousers and a fashionable shirt for your Pedigree Sindy dolls using today’s free clothing patterns! #PedigreeSindy #VintageUK

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