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.
With a tiny quilt framing it, we see an image of the McCall's 5462 doll clothes pattern on the right and an image of a Barbie doll modeling the shirt from view B in the McCall's Barbie clothes pattern on the left. An arrow points from the pattern to the doll's shirt.
Interviews With Crafters, Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection, Tips for Beginners, Uncategorized

How to sew a boatneck top, using McCall’s Barbie pattern 5462 #SewingTips #DollClothesPatterns

If you’ve only recently started to sew doll clothes, you may feel a little challenged by projects that use a boatneck. According to Webster’s online dictionary, a boatneck top has “a wide neckline that extends toward the tips of the shoulders.” And as my computer is still in the fixit shop, today’s blog post is a repeat. That’s why it may look familiar to you. … Continue reading How to sew a boatneck top, using McCall’s Barbie pattern 5462 #SewingTips #DollClothesPatterns

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The image shows a Made-to-Move Barbie with blond hair and tan skin bent over and peering into a full-to-overflowing wheelbarrow full of harvested vegetables, flowers, and leaves. Behind Barbie is a pair of hay bales stacked on top of each other. MTM barbie wears a handmade dress and apron. The dress is made of sunflower-designed cotton Fabric and its wide skirt (which comes down to just below Barbie's knees) is trimmed in yellow rickrack. On the grass in the foreground, there are a smattering of orange and gold fall leaves. Behind Barbie is a garden scene with a bridge that crosses a still lake. Some of the foliage around the lake is turning yellow, to indicate that autumn is at hand. The image has a watermark: ChellyWood.com, a website where one can find numerous free printable sewing patterns to fit Barbie and many other dolls of different shapes and sizes.
11-inch doll clothes patterns, Daily Patterns, Whole Costumes for Dolls

Sunflower harvest dress and apron patterns #SewingLove #DollClothes

For your free patterns and tutorial videos, please scroll down to the second set of bullets. If you’ve been following my blog, you know that I’m “out of the office” for the time being, while my computer is being repaired. So today’s blog post is a re-post of one of my most popular doll clothes outfits from 2021. Before I go on,  I need to … Continue reading Sunflower harvest dress and apron patterns #SewingLove #DollClothes

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The image shows the Chelly Wood doll holding up a McCall's Crafts sewing pattern which displays the finished projects of a Barbie sized wedding dress, various pants and shirts, a cape, and evening gowns. The article that goes with this image offers advice for buying sewing patterns for making doll clothes, using the eBay auction platform. Please visit ChellyWood.com for additional sewing ideas plus free printable sewing patterns and tutorial videos for making doll clothes to fit dolls of many shapes and all different sizes.
Buyer's Guide, Interviews With Crafters, Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection, Selling Your Crafts

Tips for Buying Used Doll Clothes Patterns on eBay @ ChellyWood.com #AmSewing #DollClothes

Today’s blog post is a re-post from 2021. I’m out of the office until I get my computer repaired. Please feel free to leave questions or comments at the bottom. I’ll check those from my phone. The pattern you see in the image above is outdated, but there are some timeless patterns in this set, as well as out-of-style fashions. The wedding dress pattern can … Continue reading Tips for Buying Used Doll Clothes Patterns on eBay @ ChellyWood.com #AmSewing #DollClothes

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Thumbnail image featuring a prominent purple silhouette of a sewing machine outlined in white against a turquoise background. The geometric design includes a square displaying a vintage wooden spool of thread, and a rectangle showcasing the Chelly Wood dot com logo.
Crafts and Hobbies, Interviews With Crafters, Tips for Beginners

Sewing machine advice for making tiny doll clothes @ ChellyWood.com #SewingMachines #SewingAdvice

Today’s blog post is a re-post from 2021. I’m “out of the office” for a while, waiting for my computer to be repaired. Back in 2021, I got a great question from a follower named Jacqueline: “Hello! I’m excited to get started learning to sew Barbie & Ken clothes. What advise do you have for me to keep my sewing machine from tangling thread & … Continue reading Sewing machine advice for making tiny doll clothes @ ChellyWood.com #SewingMachines #SewingAdvice

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A quilted frame surrounds an image of Vogue Craft 9985 (featuring the Victorian bridal dress for a Barbie and a tuxedo for Ken) beside the Chelly Wood doll who points to the pattern. This pattern is for a wedding dress and tux for Barbie and Ken, in a Victorian era style. It's Vogue Craft 9985 from the late 1800's to early 1900s in history, although the pattern is copyrighted 1998.
Ken Patterns, Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection, Sewing and Fashion History, Tips for Beginners, Vintage Barbie

Vogue Craft 9985 doll clothes sewing pattern for Barbie and Ken #MeMadeMonday #Sewing

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 Barbie, Ken, 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 from my Vogue Craft … Continue reading Vogue Craft 9985 doll clothes sewing pattern for Barbie and Ken #MeMadeMonday #Sewing

Chelly Wood3 Comments
The image shows a building shape, made out of safety pins. Inside the building are the Times New Roman font words: "Out of the Office" to indicate that sewing blogger, doll clothes designer, and You-Tuber Chelly Wood will be on vacation from December 24th until January 2nd.
Uncategorized

I won’t be available for a while. Here’s how you can help!

Did you see this video? My computer died! While it’s in the “fixit shop,” I’ll have to use the public access computers at the library or my phone (which I’m not very good at typing on) until I get a working computer. My fear is that while I’m on hiatus, I’ll lose followers. I mean, it’s not the end of the world to lose followers, … Continue reading I won’t be available for a while. Here’s how you can help!

Chelly Wood7 Comments
A woman in a long dress with a bustle is silhouetted in white on a purple background with a turquoise blue frame. She holds a bouquet. a man in a top hat holding a cane stands beside her. The Word "History" is in all capitals, stylized in a historical font, beneath the two silhouetted figures in white on the purple background.
Barbie Patterns, History and Research, Holiday Crafts, LOL Surprise Dolls, Made to Move Barbie, Petite Barbie Patterns, Queens of Africa, Sewing and Fashion History, Stacie Patterns

Here are a few ideas I didn’t cover for Black History Month, but maybe next year? #BlackHistory #SewingProjects

Can you believe February is almost behind us now? I had taken so many photos of my Black dolls and done so much research for Black History Month, but other than today, there are literally only two days left of this month. And I’ve barely gotten the ball rolling! So I’m going to show you some of the projects I had planned and perhaps cover … Continue reading Here are a few ideas I didn’t cover for Black History Month, but maybe next year? #BlackHistory #SewingProjects

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Free sewing patterns! Make an Easter outfit for Creatable World with today's free patterns at Chelly Wood dot com. Black Creatable World with dreadlocks models a feminine white lace trimmed blouse and pastel polka dot ruffled skirt.
10-inch doll clothes patterns, A4 Printer PDF Patterns, Creatable World Dolls, Daily Patterns, History and Research, Holiday Crafts, Sewing and Fashion History, Whole Costumes for Dolls

Make a pretty Easter outfit for Creatable World dolls with today’s free patterns! #EasterCrafts #SewingProjects

Scroll down to the third set of bullets for the free PDF sewing patterns. Today’s free skirt pattern was first posted for Barbie, but as you can see in the image above, it does fit the Creatable World dolls as more of a midi-length ruffle skirt. But please don’t be put off by the mention of 11 inch fashion dolls on the pattern. You’ll want … Continue reading Make a pretty Easter outfit for Creatable World dolls with today’s free patterns! #EasterCrafts #SewingProjects

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The thumbnail, framed by a turquoise blue and purple quilt, shows the front of the envelope for Simplicity 5861, a vintage doll clothes pattern for Skipper, from 1964. The text in this thumbnail reads, "Vintage Skipper Simplicity 5861" and under this, we see the Chelly Wood dot com logo.
History and Research, Holiday Crafts, Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection, Sewing and Fashion History, Skipper Patterns, Tips for Beginners, Vintage Barbie, Vintage Skipper

Sewing a blouse for modern Skipper using a vintage Skipper doll’s patterns! #MeMadeMonday #BlackHistory

If you’ve been following my Monday blog posts, then you’ll know that my modern Skipper doll, shown above, is supposed to look like one of Mary McLeod Bethune‘s students in a vintage black-and-white photo from the early 1900’s. To learn more about Mary McLeod Bethune‘s profoundly important work in the fields of education and civil rights, please click here. Before I go on, I need … Continue reading Sewing a blouse for modern Skipper using a vintage Skipper doll’s patterns! #MeMadeMonday #BlackHistory

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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, History and Research, Holiday Crafts, Interviews With Crafters, Links, Sewing and Fashion History

Celebrating everyday people for #BlackHistoryMonth with #BlackGirlsSew

  Have you ever heard of Black Girls Sew? Watch the video above and you’ll learn a little about it. Or visit their website using this link. As part of my celebration of Black History Month, on Fridays, I’m honoring everyday people like the ladies who organized Black Girls Sew, a non-profit organization that works to teach kids how to sew. Before I go on, … Continue reading Celebrating everyday people for #BlackHistoryMonth with #BlackGirlsSew

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An African American Creatable World doll models a handmade African print cotton shirt. The shirt is sleeveless, but running down the front of the shirt is a red lace trim with a black quarter-inch wide ribbon running down the center of the lace trim, sort of like a black placket. The African print fabric of the shirt is multicolor, incorporating red, blue, yellow, green, and black. The text reads, "Free sewing Pattern!"
10-inch doll clothes patterns, A4 Printer PDF Patterns, Creatable World Dolls, Daily Patterns, History and Research, Holiday Crafts, Petite Barbie Patterns, Skipper Patterns, Tutorials: Sewing for Dolls, Whole Costumes for Dolls

Let’s make a lace-and-ribbon-front shirt for 10 inch dolls! And let’s learn about lacebark… #BlackHistoryMonth #Crafts

Scroll down to the third set of bullets for the free PDF sewing patterns. Today’s sewing project tutorial video and free doll clothes sewing pattern can be used to make an adorable little sleeveless shirt with a lace-and-ribbon decorative front. And if you’ve been following my daily blog posts, you’ll know it’s February, which is Black History Month. So on your way down to get … Continue reading Let’s make a lace-and-ribbon-front shirt for 10 inch dolls! And let’s learn about lacebark… #BlackHistoryMonth #Crafts

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The image shows a Lieutenant Uhura doll (in the likeness of actress Nichelle Nichols) wearing a handmade dress with a dropped ruffle and cap sleeves. The main part of the dress is made of red and white striped cotton fabric that looks a lot like the stripes on a peppermint candy. The watermark reminds you to go to ChellyWood.com for free printable sewing patterns for making doll clothes to fit dolls and action figures of many shapes and all different sizes.
8-inch doll clothes patterns, History and Research, Holiday Crafts, Mego Action Figures, Sewing and Fashion History, Whole Costumes for Dolls

Honoring Nichelle Nichols for Black History Month with a Free Pattern @ ChellyWood.com #BlackHistory #NichelleNichols

Please scroll down to the second set of bullets for the free printable PDF sewing pattern and links to any additional relevant tutorial videos for making today’s dress project. Today’s blog post is a re-post from five years ago. February is Black History Month in the United States, and as part of the celebration of African American history, I’m posting a sewing project that honors … Continue reading Honoring Nichelle Nichols for Black History Month with a Free Pattern @ ChellyWood.com #BlackHistory #NichelleNichols

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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, Fabric, History and Research, Holiday Crafts, LOL Surprise Dolls

What are you working on, in terms of craft projects? Please comment! #CraftProjects #SewingProjects

Today’s blog post asks you — yes YOU — to answer the question, “What are you working on?” Please scroll down to the comments section to tell me what projects have recently inspired you. Be sure to check in with my Black History Month segment as well. You’ll find it just before you get to the cross-stitch graphic. In a nutshell, here’s what I’m busy … Continue reading What are you working on, in terms of craft projects? Please comment! #CraftProjects #SewingProjects

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The thumbnail, framed by a turquoise blue and purple quilt, shows the front of the envelope for Simplicity 5861, a vintage doll clothes pattern for Skipper, from 1964. The text in this thumbnail reads, "Vintage Skipper Simplicity 5861" and under this, we see the Chelly Wood dot com logo.
History and Research, Holiday Crafts, Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection, Sewing and Fashion History, Stacie Patterns, Tips for Beginners, Vintage Skipper

Altering a shirt from Simplicity 5861 to make Mary McLeod Bethune’s students’ blouses #BlackHistoryMonth #SewWithMe

This month, as part of my celebration of Black History Month, I’ve been delving into the clothing worn by Mary McLeod Bethune and her students, in the photo at the top of today’s blog post. You can learn more about Mary McLeod Bethune by clicking on the links I’ve provided whenever her name appears in this post. Today’s blog post will discuss how I made … Continue reading Altering a shirt from Simplicity 5861 to make Mary McLeod Bethune’s students’ blouses #BlackHistoryMonth #SewWithMe

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Eveeryday Hero! Betty the bus driver poses for her photo. She's a real person, but here, she's represented by the Bumblebee DC superhero doll dressed in Trans Dev uniform for driving her bus. Beside her is a red, yellow, and green book entitled Black History Month.
DC Super Hero Girls Dolls, History and Research, Holiday Crafts

Betty the Bus Driver — an Everyday Hero Making History at Chicago’s Midway Airport #BlackHistoryMonth #Chicago

If you’ve been following my blog posts, you know that February is Black History Month, and on Fridays, I’m featuring everyday people who are making history in the things they do each and every day, as they go through their lives. Today I’m going to feature a lady named Betty, who drives a bus that takes passengers to and from Midway Airport in Chicago to … Continue reading Betty the Bus Driver — an Everyday Hero Making History at Chicago’s Midway Airport #BlackHistoryMonth #Chicago

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