Displaying Simplicity 9054 vintage patterns for 11 and one half inch dolls such as Barbie, Julie, Maddie Mod, and Ken. View 1 dress, scarf and vest; View 2 tunic, scarf, and pants; view 3 blouse, pants, and vest (hippie style with fringe); view 4 bikini bathing suit for Barbie; view 5 shirt, pants, and jacket (double breasted without a collar) for Ken; View 6 and 7 turtleneck sweater for Ken; View 7 pants and vest (with fringe, hippie style); view 8 swim trunks or shorts for Ken. Lessons learned from sewing this pattern can be found at the website, ChellyWood.com under her vintage doll clothes sewing patterns button.

Does the Simplicity 9054 bikini pattern for Barbie also fit Disney Princesses? #MeMadeMonday #DisneyDolls

Last week I showed you the Christmas-themed boxers that I made for Ken, using Simplicity 9054 (view 8). At about the same time, I experimented with the view 4 bikini from this pattern. I used a stretchy green and white striped fabric to make the undies and the bra from View 4, and even though the instructions for making this bikini top/bra suggest using a … Continue reading Does the Simplicity 9054 bikini pattern for Barbie also fit Disney Princesses? #MeMadeMonday #DisneyDolls

Simplicity 9054, showing the envelope front, which displays swimwear, hippie clothes, and 1960s and early 1970s fashions for both Ken and 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

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.

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

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!

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

Pintuck Dress for Francie — The easiest way to learn pintucks! #MeMadeMonday #SewVintage

According to Wikipedia, “In sewing, a tuck is a fold or pleat in fabric that is sewn or fastened in place.”* It goes on to explain that pintucks are tiny tucks. They’re certainly right about that. The key word is TINY. But there’s a LOT Wikipedia doesn’t tell you about pintucks, and now that I’ve learned a thing or two about pintucks while sewing the … Continue reading Pintuck Dress for Francie — The easiest way to learn pintucks! #MeMadeMonday #SewVintage

McCall's 2970 doll clothes sewing patterns. Click the thumbnail for the article which talks about which dolls (including Topper Dawn and Pippa) will fit in this tiny six inch doll's wardrobe. Article available to read at chellywood.com

Besides Dawn and Pippa, what other dolls will fit in McCall’s 2970? #MeMadeMonday #TinyToys

Last week I talked in a Monday blog post about how the underpants pattern in the McCall’s 2970 doll clothes pattern fits Topper Dawn and a whole slew of other tiny fashion dolls in the 6 inch tall size range. But there are two other dolls that can fit into this tiny little doll underpants pattern, and I’m going to share this revelation with you … Continue reading Besides Dawn and Pippa, what other dolls will fit in McCall’s 2970? #MeMadeMonday #TinyToys

Thumbnail featuring a 12 inch tall (Malaysia 1968) “Bendable Leg” Ken doll stands 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 purple rulers against a turquoise blue background. Clicking this thumbnail leads to an infographic detailing sewing measurements for the bendable leg Ken doll that was made in Malaysia in 1968.

Tape Measure Tuesday: Bendable Leg Ken (Malaysia 1968) sewing measurements #KenDolls #TapeMeasureTuesday

Scroll down for clarifications to each measurement. You’ll notice that today’s infographic has an unusual heading: “Bendable Leg Ken (Malaysia 1968).” What’s that all about? I’ll tell you what I know in today’s blog post. 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 … Continue reading Tape Measure Tuesday: Bendable Leg Ken (Malaysia 1968) sewing measurements #KenDolls #TapeMeasureTuesday

McCall's 2970 doll clothes sewing patterns. Click the thumbnail for the article which talks about which dolls (including Topper Dawn and Pippa) will fit in this tiny six inch doll's wardrobe. Article available to read at chellywood.com

What are the smallest underpants you’ve ever made? #MeMadeMonday #TinyThings

This little fashion doll sewing pattern which was produced by McCall in 1971 offers six different outfits for little tiny six inch dolls, like the Topper Dawn dolls. In fact, it seems to fit a number of very small fashion dolls. I’ve listed them in the purple textbox for you. But there’s more to this pattern than meets the eye… Before I go on, I … Continue reading What are the smallest underpants you’ve ever made? #MeMadeMonday #TinyThings

The DoApick thumbnail (do a pick thumbnail) is purple with a rainbow and cloud graphic behind a cell phone, featuring a photo from a vintage Mattel doll clothes catalog. Today’s photo features a vintage Barbie doll modeling a yellow pajama called “Sweet Dreams” from 1961. Click on this thumbnail, and the link will take you to the “Do a Pick” game, which you can play by viewing (and listening to) the story scenario dealing with realistic activities children enjoyed with dolls, back in the early 1960’s. Leave a comment to play along.

Let’s Do a Pick — Barbie Pajamas for Christmas #DoApick #vintageToys

Today’s “Do a Pick” game features the following: “Sweet Dreams” #973 “Nighty-Negligee” #965 Two Piece Pajamas Fashion Pak What’s the story behind this game? When I was a kid, whenever it was playtime with dolls, we would lay out all our dolls and their clothing items. Then we would “do a pick.” That’s where you take turns picking which doll or dolls you’ll play with … Continue reading Let’s Do a Pick — Barbie Pajamas for Christmas #DoApick #vintageToys

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."

Tips and Tricks for Making Doll Underwear for Jem and the Holograms! #Jem #80sToys

If you’re already familiar with Advance 9939, you may say to yourself, “Wait, that’s a Barbie pattern, not a Jem and the Holograms pattern.” Well the underpants pattern from Advance 9939 doesn’t fit Jem, but the bloomers pattern does! Go back to read about the sewing vocabulary definition for bloomers, which I posted on October 22nd, and you will begin to understand that one person’s … Continue reading Tips and Tricks for Making Doll Underwear for Jem and the Holograms! #Jem #80sToys

Free sewing patterns for Lisa's lovely animal print shirt with three-quarter length sleeves and the brown swirly skirt with ruffle. These patterns will fit Curvy Barbie. Click on the thumbnail to read more and to access the free printable PDF sewing patterns, including A4 patterns.

How to make a swirly skirt with a ruffle for Curvy Barbie #FallFashion #SewWithMe

Scroll down to the third set of bullets for the free PDF sewing patterns. Ever since I designed this skirt, I’ve been calling it “Lisa’s skirt” because Lisa, the lady who ran the bookstore at the Chicago IANDS conference inspired today’s skirt project. And along with today’s skirt pattern, I’m including the pattern and tutorial for making Lisa’s lovely animal-print top. Of course, you don’t … Continue reading How to make a swirly skirt with a ruffle for Curvy Barbie #FallFashion #SewWithMe

Simplicity 1242 doll clothes patterns for Barbie doll is featured beside the logo for Chelly Wood dot com. Incidentally, this pattern is a modern remake of an older pattern numbered Simplicity 6208 in its original form.

Learning to Sew With Simplicity 1242 (AKA Simplicity 6208) Vintage Barbie Doll Clothes Sewing Patterns #CollectivelyCreate #HomeSewing

As my regular followers know, there’s now a whole library of vintage and modern doll clothes sewing patterns on my website, and with each of these patterns, I offer my take on what I’ve learned from the patterns, what alterations may work best for these patterns, and my overall review of the pattern, as I sew with it. If you haven’t found my gallery of … Continue reading Learning to Sew With Simplicity 1242 (AKA Simplicity 6208) Vintage Barbie Doll Clothes Sewing Patterns #CollectivelyCreate #HomeSewing

The thumbnail shows a traditional blond Barbie walking in handmade doll clothes including a cream colored blouse with a black Halloween-themed skirt trimmed in cream colored lace. The text says, "free patterns!" click on the thumbnail to access your free PDF sewing patterns for making this Halloween outfit for Barbie sized dolls.

DIY Halloween Skirts for Barbie: Spooky Sewing Series Part 5 #HalloweenSewing #DIYHalloween

Scroll down to the third set of bullets for the free PDF sewing patterns. When I first designed this skirt, I wasn’t sure how it was going to turn out. The “comma shape” was the best I could come up with to match the skirt my friend Lisa was wearing at the IANDS conference in Chicago, and I really wanted to design a skirt just … Continue reading DIY Halloween Skirts for Barbie: Spooky Sewing Series Part 5 #HalloweenSewing #DIYHalloween