Author: Chelly Wood

I am a school librarian with an English degree plus a library science endorsement, and I like to write. I've also designed commercial doll clothes patterns, and I make stop-motion videos with dolls. My literary agent is Elizabeth Kracht of Kimberley Cameron and Associates.
Camille Wellie Wishers doll models a handmade sleeveless felt shirt over a Christmas "schoolgirl skirt" made of green fabric with a white rickrack trim running along the knee-length edge of the skirt. Text says, "free patterns!" and the Chelly Wood dot com logo appears as a reference for where you can find the free doll clothes patterns for Wellie Wishers and many other dolls.
13-inch doll clothes patterns, 14-inch doll clothes patterns, 15-inch doll clothes patterns, 16-inch doll clothes patterns, 17-inch doll clothes patterns, 18-inch doll clothes patterns, A4 Printer PDF Patterns, BFC Ink Dolls, Crissy Family of Dolls, Daily Patterns, Disney Princess Dolls, Hearts for Hearts Girls, Velvet Dolls, Wellie Wishers Patterns, Whole Costumes for Dolls

Quick Christmas Craft: Sew a Christmas outfit for dolls with today’s free patterns! #MerryChristmas2026 #HappyHolidays2026

  Scroll down to the third set of bullets for the free PDF sewing patterns. Yes, if this video looks familiar, that’s because it’s a re-mastered version of a video I’ve had available on this website for a long time, but today I’m giving it an upgrade. I’ve added voiceover to the original video, a few photos of new and different dolls, and in the … Continue reading Quick Christmas Craft: Sew a Christmas outfit for dolls with today’s free patterns! #MerryChristmas2026 #HappyHolidays2026

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The Chelly Wood doll holds up her digital sewing planner called, "My Sewing Goals," which has a typed list of Chelly's goals for her New Year's resolution (all of which are mentioned in the accompanying blog post as well).
Crafts and Hobbies, Interviews With Crafters, Selling Your Crafts, Sewing Chat

Time for New Year’s Resolutions… What doll clothes patterns should I design in 2026? #NewYear2026 #SewingGoals

Yes, it’s time for me to set my New Year’s resolutions. I’d love your help. Please scroll down to the bottom of today’s blog post and let me know what doll clothes you’d like me to design (and for which dolls) in 2026. I’m looking for ideas! Please submit a comment. Now, did I achieve last year’s goals? Mostly, no. (I think I set the … Continue reading Time for New Year’s Resolutions… What doll clothes patterns should I design in 2026? #NewYear2026 #SewingGoals

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The image shows the Chelly Wood doll (really a Spin Master Liv doll that has had her hair died and her face repainted to look like the real doll clothing designer, Chelly Wood) staring at the camera over the top of her lowered glasses. The photo is superimposed over a swatch of turquoise blue linen fabric with the word "hashtag goals" over the top of the photo. In the lower left corner, we see the ChellyWood.com logo.
2 Enchanting 2B True -- Doll Pics, Crafts and Hobbies, Doll Play Videos, Favorite Books, For Sale in the Store, Romeo & Juliet

Have I finished Romeo and Juliet with Dolls, Act V (the stop-motion video) in 2025? #Goals #FreeSpeech

The first goal I set on my sewing and craft planner in January of 2025 was “Finish Romeo and Juliet, Act V! Work on this project for 30 minutes per week.” But did I achieve my goal? That’s what today’s blog post is all about. Before I go on, I need to make my required disclaimer statement: As an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying … Continue reading Have I finished Romeo and Juliet with Dolls, Act V (the stop-motion video) in 2025? #Goals #FreeSpeech

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Simplicity 9054, showing the envelope front, which displays swimwear, hippie clothes, and 1960s and early 1970s fashions for both Ken and Barbie
Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection, Sewing and Fashion History, Tips for Beginners, Vintage Barbie

Holiday Fabrics: Magic Beyond the Season? ✨ #MeMadeMonday #SewChristmas

I’m curious to hear your thoughts on this one everybody… When you make doll clothes out of seasonal fabrics, do these doll clothes become less fun to play with when the holidays are over? I remember playing dolls at my friend Rachel’s house when we were kids, and her family actually put her dolls’ holiday clothes away in a closet when Christmas was over. Can … Continue reading Holiday Fabrics: Magic Beyond the Season? ✨ #MeMadeMonday #SewChristmas

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In the center of the frame is an old Y2k computer screen for an art program. The image shows the catalog listings for Ken swim trunks and beach jacket #750, the Ken Fun on Ice #791, and Ken Casuals #782. To the right of these catalogue images are the clothes (minus socks and shoes) from the original catalog listings. The text above this reads "Ken Clothes for sale." The ChellyWood.com logo appears at the bottom.
Favorite Books, For Sale in the Store, Vintage Ken

I have some vintage Ken clothes for sale on eBay… #KenFashion #KenCollector #DeClutter

I’m not so much a collector as a doll clothing designer, so while it’s really nice to have a variety of different Ken dolls to design and sew clothes for, I don’t really have a need for original doll clothes. So although a friend very generously gave me this collection of vintage Ken clothes — many of which are original Mattel items with the tags … Continue reading I have some vintage Ken clothes for sale on eBay… #KenFashion #KenCollector #DeClutter

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Who inspired this dress? (Arrow points to a photo at the left, in which two women stand side by side, one in khaki pants and a pink tee shirt; the other in a lovely black and white floral dress. We cannot see their faces.) I'll show you at the end of today's video!
11-inch doll clothes patterns, A4 Printer PDF Patterns, Barbie Patterns, Daily Patterns, Whole Costumes for Dolls

Free Printable Patterns to Sew a Stylish Business Dress for Barbie @ ChellyWood.com #BarbieSewing #FreeDressPattern

  Scroll down to the third set of bullets for the free PDF sewing patterns. Today’s lovely business dress was inspired by a real-life gorgeous dress worn by one of the ladies at the IANDS Conference that I attended in Chicago, Illinois, back in August of 2025. The lady who inspired the dress was named Daniela, and she was a very classy dresser! But best … Continue reading Free Printable Patterns to Sew a Stylish Business Dress for Barbie @ ChellyWood.com #BarbieSewing #FreeDressPattern

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Various sewing and crafting notions like thread, a tape measure, scissors, and a writing utensil swirl around the words "Sewing Vocab" in a thumbnail frame. This is the default thumbnail for the sewing picture dictionary (or sewing glossary with pictures) on ChellyWood.com, a website that offers free printable PDF sewing patterns for making doll clothes to fit dolls of many shapes and all different sizes.
Crafts and Hobbies, Glossary of Sewing Terms with Pictures, Sewing Chat, Tips for Beginners, Tutorials: Sewing Basics

Glossary of Sewing Terms with Pictures: What does boot cut jeans mean? #SewingChat #SewingVocabulary

DEFINITION: A pair of pants or jeans that flare from the knee to the hem, allowing room for a pair of boots under them. This is my own definition. Of course you can google this term to find other definitions as well. As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. You can learn more about my affiliate marketing program on the Privacy Policy page. … Continue reading Glossary of Sewing Terms with Pictures: What does boot cut jeans mean? #SewingChat #SewingVocabulary

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Thumbnail featuring a 10 and 1/4 inch tall DC Superhero Super Girl doll beside a dress form labeled “Tape Measure Tuesday.” The thumbnail includes text: “With doll clothing designer, Chelly Wood,” accompanied by the Chelly Wood dot com logo. The image is bordered by bright turquoise blue rulers against a purple background with tiny polka dots. Clicking this thumbnail leads to an infographic detailing sewing measurements for this 10 and ¼ inch (26 centimeter) doll which was produced and trademarked by DC Comics.
10-inch doll clothes patterns, DC Super Hero Girls Dolls, Doll Measurements, Tape Measure Tuesday

Tape Measure Tuesday: DC Comics Super Girl doll sewing measurements #DCcomicsFan #TapeMeasureTuesday

Scroll down for clarifications to each measurement. You’ll want to pay close attention to the information on this doll’s thigh measurements. Please note: when you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include Amazon, Etsy, and the eBay Partner Network. As an Amazon affiliate, I earn … Continue reading Tape Measure Tuesday: DC Comics Super Girl doll sewing measurements #DCcomicsFan #TapeMeasureTuesday

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The envelope for McCall's 8531 doll clothes patterns for Barbie's cousin, Mod Francie, shows eight different outfits that you can sew for Francie, using McCall's 8531.
Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection, Sewing and Fashion History, Tips for Beginners, Vintage Barbie, Vintage Francie

Here are a few tips and tricks for sewing the McCall’s 8531 doll clothes wardrobe for vintage Francie dolls! #MeMadeMonday #SewVintage

Sometimes people who visit my website for the first time think I’m offering these copyrighted patterns for free. That’s not the case, of course. My website does offer free sewing patterns for Francie and similar-sized dolls, and if you need help finding those patterns, this link should help. However today’s blog post is all about the lessons I’ve personally learned when sewing the outfits offered … Continue reading Here are a few tips and tricks for sewing the McCall’s 8531 doll clothes wardrobe for vintage Francie dolls! #MeMadeMonday #SewVintage

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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, Favorite Books

10 Sewing Books You Can Buy Used Without Regrets #Top10 #Books #GiftIdeas

This list of my top “10 sewing books you can buy used without regrets” is based on a.) the books that have helped me hone my sewing skills, b.) the books that bring me inspiration to continue with my sewing projects, and c.) books that help keep my sewing projects organized. And it may surprise you to find that I’ve included more than just my … Continue reading 10 Sewing Books You Can Buy Used Without Regrets #Top10 #Books #GiftIdeas

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A pretty, bright-eyed Baby Alive 12 inch baby doll stands in a field of poppies. She wears a sleeveless A-line dress made of light blue fabric that has a repeating pattern of ladybugs and little white flowers on it. The ChellyWood.com logo reminds us that the free patterns for making this dress, plus an easy-to-follow tutorial video for sewing this dress can be found at ChellyWood.com. Text above the doll reads, "summer dress."
12-inch doll clothes patterns, 13-inch doll clothes patterns, 14-inch doll clothes patterns, 15-inch doll clothes patterns, A4 Printer PDF Patterns, Baby Alive, Baby Doll Patterns, Daily Patterns, Disney Princess Dolls

Sew an A-Line Dress for Baby Alive with Today’s FREE Patterns @ ChellyWood.com #GiftIdeas #DIYgifts

  Scroll down to the third set of bullets for the free PDF sewing patterns. Today I have a brand new pattern for you. It’s a very easy-to-make A-line dress, and it’s designed to fit baby or toddler dolls that are 12 to 13 inches tall, like Baby Alive and/or the Disney Princess Toddler dolls. I tried to keep the instructions as simple as possible, … Continue reading Sew an A-Line Dress for Baby Alive with Today’s FREE Patterns @ ChellyWood.com #GiftIdeas #DIYgifts

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Holiday Crafts

Make a No-Sew “Quilted” Christmas Tree Ornament with my free Pattern #Quilted #ChristmasTree

Every year during the holidays, today’s tutorial video gets a bunch of views on my YouTube channel. Every video view adds a few pennies to my pocketbook, which is great! So this is a re-post, but it’s a popular and fun craft project for the holidays. Hopefully my regular followers don’t mind seeing it again. Here’s the free PDF pattern to accompany the video: Quilted … Continue reading Make a No-Sew “Quilted” Christmas Tree Ornament with my free Pattern #Quilted #ChristmasTree

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Free patterns for 10 inch doll clothes. Images show DC Superhero Super Girl dolls modeling handmade doll clothes including (left) jeans with a tee shirt, (center) a hoodie with leggings, and (right) an evening gown. Click on the thumbnail to locate these free doll clothes sewing patterns at Chelly Wood dot com.
10-inch doll clothes patterns, DC Super Hero Girls Dolls, Whole Costumes for Dolls

Free Sewing Patterns for 10-inch DC Superhero Dolls (Gallery)

Please click on the doll clothes you would like to make. Not what you’re looking for? Behind the scenes, I’m creating a series of classes in doll clothing design techniques, so you can design your own doll clothes for your dolls, using simple techniques, household tools, and your amazing imagination! Click on this link to learn more about my paid courses on the Creative Spark Online Learning platform. If you would like … Continue reading Free Sewing Patterns for 10-inch DC Superhero Dolls (Gallery)

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How to make a dress with pintucks. Pictured are a finished bright yellow doll's dress with the top half showing a full set of pintucks all the way across the dress's upper half. An arrow points to the View A drawing on the McCall's 8531 doll clothes sewing pattern envelope. Beside this is the enlarged image of the drawing from the front of the envelope, sewing an artist's rendition of Francie wearing the same dress as the photo on the left, but the dress in the drawing is white, and it also shows Francie wearing a little lace cap.
Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection, Sewing and Fashion History, Tips for Beginners, Vintage Barbie, Vintage Francie

Pintucks Part 2: How I salvaged Dress View A with a few modifications to McCall’s 8531 for Francie #MeMadeMonday #SewVintage

In last Monday’s post, you heard about how, even I — a very experienced doll clothes sewing enthusiast — struggled to understand the wording “… stitching back ‘Hemlines’ from top as far as lower ends of tucks” in the McCall’s doll clothes pattern 8531 for Mattel’s vintage Francie dolls. I also learned that the estimate in the pattern for how much fabric you would need … Continue reading Pintucks Part 2: How I salvaged Dress View A with a few modifications to McCall’s 8531 for Francie #MeMadeMonday #SewVintage

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Free Patterns! A red headed World of Love doll models a sleeveless shirt and trousers or pants, both made of bright orange cotton fabric. Click on the thumbnail to learn more.
9-inch Dolls, Daily Patterns, Whole Costumes for Dolls, World of Love Doll Patterns

Let’s make a fall swing top and pants for World of Love dolls w/today’s free PDF sewing patterns! #VintageDoll #FlowerPower

For your free patterns and tutorial videos, please scroll down to the second set of bullets. When I was a kid, I didn’t own any of the World of Love pre-teen dolls, but my cousin Virginia did… and I was SO envious! They were the coolest dolls in town, back in the early 1970’s. According to a website called Mod Barbie and Other 70s Dolls, … Continue reading Let’s make a fall swing top and pants for World of Love dolls w/today’s free PDF sewing patterns! #VintageDoll #FlowerPower

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