Category: Vintage Barbie

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

What’s the best underpants pattern for dolls? #PatternReview #SewWithMe

Today I’ll be exploring how elastic changes the fit of a pair of fashion doll underpants, when sewing the View 4 bikini bottoms from Simplicity 9054. As you can see in the image above, the View 4 patterns offer a bikini swimsuit option, which of course, can become a bra and underpants, if you’re creative with your fabric choices and the execution of that fabric … Continue reading What’s the best underpants pattern for dolls? #PatternReview #SewWithMe

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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

Alterations make my Disney Princess fashion doll’s bra fit perfectly! #MeMadeMonday #DisneyPrincesses

Last week I shared the first version of the bra I made for my Disney Princess fashion doll. As you can see in the image above, it didn’t turn out right. So I re-made it this past week, with these two goals in mind: I wanted to alter the pattern so it’s narrower (vertically) I wanted to give the garment a lining (to prevent the … Continue reading Alterations make my Disney Princess fashion doll’s bra fit perfectly! #MeMadeMonday #DisneyPrincesses

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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, Vintage Ken

Guide to Sewing Simplicity 9054 Doll Clothes for Vintage Barbie and Ken Collectors #MeMadeMonday #BarbieGirl

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 vintage Ken, vintage Barbie, 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 … Continue reading Guide to Sewing Simplicity 9054 Doll Clothes for Vintage Barbie and Ken Collectors #MeMadeMonday #BarbieGirl

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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 American Airlines Stewardess doll clothes ensemble number 984. 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 1970’s. Leave a comment to play along.
Do a Pick! Game, Doll Play Videos, Vintage Barbie, Vintage Ken

Let’s Do a Pick — Play a game with Barbie’s Friend Ship Airplane from 1972! #DoApick #vintageToys

  It’s Christmas, 2025! So today’s #DoApick short is about the fun Christmas presents that were available to play with when I was a kid, growing up in the 1970’s. So fun! I hope everyone is enjoying their holiday. 🙂 Today’s “Do a Pick” game features the following: American Airlines Captain #0779 American Airlines Stewardess #984 Army and Air Force #797 And here’s a link … Continue reading Let’s Do a Pick — Play a game with Barbie’s Friend Ship Airplane from 1972! #DoApick #vintageToys

Chelly Wood4 Comments
Within a blue linen frame, we see the words "free pattern" overlaid on top of a photo of a fashion doll, whose "Sunday best" dressy glove (really a mitten) is resting elegantly against her full skirt. The Chelly Wood dot com logo appears in the lower left corner.
12-inch doll clothes patterns, Daily Patterns, Holiday Crafts, Tall Barbie, Tammy Doll Patterns, Tutorials: Sewing for Dolls, Vintage Barbie

Free pattern and tutorial video for making fashion doll gloves or mittens @ ChellyWood.com #DollClothesPatterns #VintageFashion

For your free patterns and tutorial videos, please scroll down to the second set of bullets. Today’s blog post shares with you a free, printable PDF sewing pattern for making a nostalgic looking pair of 1950’s style fashion doll gloves, so all your vintage dolls can wear gloves with their “Sunday best” dresses! This is part of a winter-themed or holiday-themed series of re-posts that … Continue reading Free pattern and tutorial video for making fashion doll gloves or mittens @ ChellyWood.com #DollClothesPatterns #VintageFashion

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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.
Disney Princess Dolls, Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection, Sewing and Fashion History, Tips for Beginners, Vintage Barbie

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

Chelly Wood2 Comments
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

Chelly Wood4 Comments
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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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

Chelly Wood4 Comments
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

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

Chelly Wood2 Comments
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
Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection, Sewing and Fashion History, Topper Dawn Dolls, Vintage Barbie

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

Chelly Wood6 Comments
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
Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection, Sewing and Fashion History, Topper Dawn Dolls, Vintage Barbie

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

Chelly Wood4 Comments
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.
Do a Pick! Game, Doll Play Videos, Holiday Crafts, Vintage Barbie

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

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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."
Fabric, Jem and the Holograms, Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection, Sewing and Fashion History, Tips for Beginners, Vintage Barbie

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

Chelly Wood7 Comments
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.
11-inch doll clothes patterns, A4 Printer PDF Patterns, Barbie Patterns, Curvy Barbie, Daily Patterns, Vintage Barbie, Whole Costumes for Dolls

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

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