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.
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, For Sale in the Store

What are you doing in your sewing practice, to keep things sustainable? #EarthDay #Recycle

I think all of us know that our earth is in need of a relaxing day at the spa, right? Tomorrow is Earth Day, and in years past, I’ve done official “Earth Day Challenge” activities. You can view those here and here, if you’re interested in seeing what those challenges looked like. Before I go on, I need to make my required disclaimer statement: As … Continue reading What are you doing in your sewing practice, to keep things sustainable? #EarthDay #Recycle

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Free fuzzy slippers patterns at Chelly Wood dot com, to fit dolls 13 to 15 inches tall. A Disney Princess Elsa doll (13 inches tall) is shown wearing the blue fuzzy slippers with a cute blue pair of star-themed pajama pants with matching raglan sleeved flannel pajama top. Slippers are shown on and off the doll's feet, and we can see that inside the fuzzy slippers, the star-themed blue and white flannel is the same as the flannel used to make the doll's pajama pants and raglan sleeved pajama top.
13-inch doll clothes patterns, 14-inch doll clothes patterns, 15-inch doll clothes patterns, 16-inch doll clothes patterns, A4 Printer PDF Patterns, Daily Patterns, Disney Princess Dolls, Hearts for Hearts Girls, Wellie Wishers Patterns

Sew a pair of fuzzy slippers for Disney Princess Toddler (and similar sized dolls) with today’s free patterns! #FreePatterns #Sewing

Scroll down to the third set of bullets for the free PDF sewing patterns. Today’s tutorial shows you how to make a pair of fuzzy slippers, to accompany a pair of pajamas for your 13 inch to 15 inch dolls. For a full list of all the dolls they will fit, please scroll down to the second set of bullets. I do plan to post … Continue reading Sew a pair of fuzzy slippers for Disney Princess Toddler (and similar sized dolls) with today’s free patterns! #FreePatterns #Sewing

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Chelly Wood is shown silhouetted in profile with snow covered mountains in the distance. She stands with her arms across her body and one index finger tapping against her chin as she thinks hard. There’s a lovely purple sunset in the distance beyond the mountains. Closer to her are the lights of a small town.
Crafts and Hobbies, Fan Mail, Sewing Chat, Uncategorized

What technical challenges are you facing? #PersonalStory #DarkNightOfTheSoul

We all face challenges. That’s what life is all about. I’m sure you’ve had times in your life where it seemed like the challenges were piled up, one on top of another. (Feel free to share such experiences in the comments section. Misery loves company!😉) As you know, I’ve had some technical challenges lately. Starting in February, the digital systems I use to build this … Continue reading What technical challenges are you facing? #PersonalStory #DarkNightOfTheSoul

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The Simplicity 9097 pattern envelope appears on the right. On the left, there’s a close-up of the doll clothes outfits for the View 3 skirt, top, cape and scarf. The blue “ra-ra” skirt is 1960’s style super-short with two pleats in the front. The white top is sleeveless with side darts. The scarf appears to be a white ribbon with red polka dots, tied around the doll’s neck. The blue cape is waist length and has two white buttons at the top of an asymmetrical closure.
Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection, Sewing and Fashion History, Tips for Beginners, Vintage Barbie

Sewing Ribbon to Fabric: Which ribbon would you pick and why? #SewingLessons #SewVintage

Last week’s Monday blog post was about finding someone else’s unfinished doll clothes project in an envelope for a doll clothes sewing pattern that I bought at a second-hand store. I decided to embrace the unfinished project, which was just a skirt piece for the View 3 dress from the Simplicity 9097 doll clothes pattern that you see pictured above. But there was a problem… … Continue reading Sewing Ribbon to Fabric: Which ribbon would you pick and why? #SewingLessons #SewVintage

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Betty the Bus Driver framed on a turquoise blue grid, with highlighted purple words at the bottom of the frame that say "Betty, you're an everyday hero!" This image is part of the Black History Month celebrations in February of 2026, at Chelly Wood dot com.
12-inch doll clothes patterns, A4 Printer PDF Patterns, Daily Patterns, DC Super Hero Girls Dolls, Whole Costumes for Dolls

Make a “Bus Driver Uniform” for DC Super Hero Girls 12 inch dolls with today’s free patterns #DCcomics #dollPhotography

Scroll down to the third set of bullets for the free PDF sewing patterns. You’ve met “Betty the Bus Driver” before. She’s a DC Super Hero Bumblebee doll, all dressed up to look like a bus driver I met in Chicago. You can learn more about the real Betty here and here. But today’s tutorial video shows you how to sew a cute little shirt … Continue reading Make a “Bus Driver Uniform” for DC Super Hero Girls 12 inch dolls with today’s free patterns #DCcomics #dollPhotography

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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: Buttonhole (and how to sew one) #SewingChat #SewingVocabulary

DEFINITION: A narrow zigzag stitch is used to form two side by side columns of stitches with a series of overlapping stitches top and bottom (or on each side); the frame formed by this is cut down the center to make a hole for a button. This is my own definition. Of course you can google this term to find other definitions as well. As … Continue reading Glossary of Sewing Terms with Pictures: Buttonhole (and how to sew one) #SewingChat #SewingVocabulary

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Crafts and Hobbies, For Sale in the Store

Velcro or snap fasteners? Which one do you prefer and why? #SewingChat #Sewcialists

When it comes to fasteners, most people have a favorite. As a seamstress, installing a zipper isn’t my favorite thing. As a little girl, my least favorite was the hook and eye because I never seemed to be able to get them fastened. But for many people who sew doll clothes, they’re either a Velcro fan or they prefer snaps. Which one is your favorite? … Continue reading Velcro or snap fasteners? Which one do you prefer and why? #SewingChat #Sewcialists

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McCall's 6260 vintage Barbie patterns: view A shows a ponytail Barbie wearing a pink gingham dress with lace skirt overlaid and a matching pair of pink gingham panties (shown below the doll on a silver graphic line); View B shows a silver evening gown (strapless) with matching stole and a pink ribbon tied at the waist; View C shows a pink swing coat with very large pockets and lots of buttons; View D shows an orange Kimono style bath robe with white trim and a white belt tied at the waist; View E shows a pair of high-waisted black pants with a little bolero style pink top over the top of them; View F shows a blue bikini with tiny pink polka dots.
Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection, Sewing and Fashion History, Tips for Beginners, Vintage Barbie

Unfinished Sewing Projects #MeMadeMonday #SewVintage

Have you ever discovered someone else’s unfinished craft project or sewing project in an unexpected place? And if so, were you tempted to finish the project they started? Today’s blog post is about one such unfinished sewing project! I bought the envelope you see in the image above, and when I got home and opened it up… there was a UFO inside! (An unfinished object.) … Continue reading Unfinished Sewing Projects #MeMadeMonday #SewVintage

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In a very clean, spartan bedroom, two African American dolls of about the same height and measurements model the same handmade pajamas: a white tank top or sleeveless cotton top decorated with pink ribbons and pink lace in a vertical strip down the front of the shirt, and a pair of Valentine's Day pajama pants with both an elastic waist and a snap-front fly. These are baggy, low rise pajama pants made of light pink cotton with black and bright pink tiny hearts printed on them. The dolls are (left) Petite Barbie and (right) African American Skipper.
10-inch doll clothes patterns, A4 Printer PDF Patterns, Daily Patterns, History and Research, Holiday Crafts, Petite Barbie Patterns, Skipper Patterns

Sew Skipper or Petite Barbie some pajama pants and a sleeveless top #PajamaParty #FunCrafts

Scroll down to the third set of bullets for the free PDF sewing patterns. Now that I have a functioning computer again (mine was down for part of February and most of March), I have some catching up to do! I posted the free sewing patterns for making these pajamas for 10 inch dolls like Skipper and Petite Barbie back when I was working with … Continue reading Sew Skipper or Petite Barbie some pajama pants and a sleeveless top #PajamaParty #FunCrafts

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Betty the Bus Driver (also known as Bumblebee from the DC Super Hero Girls comics series) stands beside a free doll clothes sewing pattern. The doll wears a dress shirt and jeans. The text says "free pattern" and "for 12 inch dolls." The ChellyWood LLC logo appears on this YouTube thumbnail. The accompanying video shows how to make either the doll's jeans or the doll's dress shirt, and it offers links to both a free A4 PDF sewing pattern and an American PDF sewing pattern for making the doll's ensemble. Please visit ChellyWood.com to learn more.
10-inch doll clothes patterns, 9-inch Dolls, A4 Printer PDF Patterns, Daily Patterns, Whole Costumes for Dolls

Make a pair of trousers/pants or jeans for DC Super Hero Girls 12 inch dolls with today’s free patterns #DCcomics #dollPhotography

Scroll down to the third set of bullets for the free PDF sewing patterns. You’ve met “Betty the Busdriver” before. She’s a DC Super Hero Bumblebee doll, all dressed up to look like a bus driver I met in Chicago. You can learn more about the real Betty here and here. But today’s tutorial video shows you how to sew a pair of jeans (or … Continue reading Make a pair of trousers/pants or jeans for DC Super Hero Girls 12 inch dolls with today’s free patterns #DCcomics #dollPhotography

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A modern African American Skipper doll models a handmade pair of flannel short-shorts decorated with tiny pink and black hearts under a handmade white sleeveless shirt that has pink lace and a ribbon running down the front of the top. Under the doll, it says, "Free printable PDF sewing patterns at Chelly Wood dot com." This is part of the Valentine's Day and Black History Month celebrations in February at chellywood.com, a website that offers free printable PDF sewing patterns for dolls of many shapes and all different sizes.
10-inch doll clothes patterns, 8-inch doll clothes patterns, 9-inch Dolls, A4 Printer PDF Patterns, Daily Patterns, Holiday Crafts, Petite Barbie Patterns, Skipper Patterns, Stacie Patterns, Tutorials: Sewing for Dolls, Whole Costumes for Dolls

Valentine’s Day Pajama Shorts and a Sleeveless Top for Skipper #FreeSewingPatterns #FreePattern

Scroll down to the fourth set of bullets for the free PDF sewing patterns. Yes, I posted this pajama set last February, during Black History Month, but by the middle of February, I was already having computer issues. So I actually had some errors in the original blog post. That’s why I’m reposting the same patterns here today. Before I go on, I need to … Continue reading Valentine’s Day Pajama Shorts and a Sleeveless Top for Skipper #FreeSewingPatterns #FreePattern

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The image shows a woman who is bent over a cutting mat with large doll clothes patterns laid out on the cutting mat. Above her it says, "how to cut doll clothes sewing patterns". There's also a small pink stamp overlaid on top of the image, which says, "pin and cut" and the texts on either side of the woman say, "special thanks to the mom who reached out to me for help" (left of the image) and "I hope you get to read today's blog post" (to the right of the image).
Crafts and Hobbies, Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection, Tips for Beginners, Tutorials: Sewing Basics, Uncategorized

How to cut out a Barbie doll clothes sewing pattern Part 5 (How do you cut it?) #SewersOfInstagram #MakersGonnaMake

Lately we’ve been learning how to cut out a Barbie doll clothes sewing pattern. I’m continuing that train of thought in today’s blog post, which reviews the cutting steps and adds a few details. When you’re getting ready to cut out your doll clothes patterns, it can be very helpful to see which garment pieces will need two identical pieces cut. For these, you can … Continue reading How to cut out a Barbie doll clothes sewing pattern Part 5 (How do you cut it?) #SewersOfInstagram #MakersGonnaMake

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In a quilted purple and blue frame, we see an image of a Barbie wearing a handmade felt hat and coat of matching purple felt. Behind the Barbie is Simplicity doll clothes sewing pattern number 7601 with an enlargement focusing on the hat and coat from the pattern. The ChellyWood dot com logo appears at the side of the image.
Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection, Tutorials: Sewing Basics, Uncategorized

How to cut out a Barbie doll clothes sewing pattern Part 4 (How do you pin it to the fabric?) #SewingTips #DollClothesPatterns #Sewing

In the image at the very top of this blog post, we see that a garment pattern piece has been laid on one side of a swatch of felt fabric, but the image below that one, shows a garment pattern piece has been actually pinned onto the fabric swatch. How do we get from point A to point B? In other words, how is the … Continue reading How to cut out a Barbie doll clothes sewing pattern Part 4 (How do you pin it to the fabric?) #SewingTips #DollClothesPatterns #Sewing

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In front of an airport, Betty the Bus Driver (a Bumblebee DC Comics doll) drives a public transportation bus filled with people. This is part of the Chelly Wood dot com celebration of Black History Month in February of 2026.
Crafts and Hobbies, For Sale in the Store

Stop Motion Video with DC Super Hero Bumblebee Doll as “Betty the Bus Driver!” #StopMotion #StopMotionAnimation

  March has been an interesting month for me. My computer started slowing down in February, and then in March, I took it to the fixit shop. And then I got it back and it didn’t work. So I took it to the fixit shop again. And when I got it back, it didn’t work again. This went on for something like five trips to … Continue reading Stop Motion Video with DC Super Hero Bumblebee Doll as “Betty the Bus Driver!” #StopMotion #StopMotionAnimation

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ON a swatch of wool fabric, we see patterns for a jacket front, a jacket back, a hat top, and a hat crown. All of these are Barbie doll sewing patterns from Simplicity 7601 hat and coat set. Because the swatch of fabric is quite small, we see that the coat front has been aligned with the nap arrow facing East and west, while the coat back has its arrow facing north and south. The hat top arrow faces east-west while the hat crown's nap arrow faces north and south. The fabric is a burgundy color with black chevron-shaped print.
Crafts and Hobbies, Interviews With Crafters, Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection, Tips for Beginners, Tutorials: Crafts, Tutorials: Sewing Basics

How to cut out a Barbie doll clothes sewing pattern Part 3 (What do the arrows mean?) #Sewcialists #Sewing

Since Monday, I’ve been revisiting some older blog posts that teach some basics for cutting out a commercial sewing pattern. Today’s blog post is part of that series. I do have good news, though… My computer is back up and running after being in the fixit shop for most of the month of March. What does this mean? It means I have a LOT of … Continue reading How to cut out a Barbie doll clothes sewing pattern Part 3 (What do the arrows mean?) #Sewcialists #Sewing

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