Category: Vintage Skipper

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.
Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection, Tips for Beginners, Vintage Skipper

Learning to sew with Simplicity 5861 vintage Skipper doll clothes patterns #VintageDolls #DollClothesPatterns

To say that I adore the Skipper 5861 Simplicity pattern from 1964 would be an utter and complete understatement. It’s so awesome, I have no words to express the fun I’ve had when making each and every one of the outfits pictured on the front of the envelope! *Please note: As an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. To learn more about how my … Continue reading Learning to sew with Simplicity 5861 vintage Skipper doll clothes patterns #VintageDolls #DollClothesPatterns

Chelly Wood4 Comments
The text on this thumbnail says, "Besides just Skipper, which fashionista can rock this retro swing coat?" Beneath this text, it says, "Guess who!" A red felt arrow points at a scanned image from Simplicity 5861, which focuses on a vintage Skipper wearing a sky blue swing coat with matching scarf and little blue ballet flats.
Elf on the Shelf, Holiday Crafts, Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection, Vintage Skipper

What surprising “fashionista” can wear this Skipper retro swing coat?

*Please note: As an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. To learn more about how my website uses affiliate marketing, please visit the website’s Privacy Policy page. Yes, that’s our little buddy, Elf on the Shelf, modeling a Skipper swing coat from vintage Simplicity 5861! If you’re looking for a commercial coat pattern to fit Elf on the Shelf, vintage Simplicity 5861 will work … Continue reading What surprising “fashionista” can wear this Skipper retro swing coat?

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In this quilt-framed thumbnail image, a lineup of four Skipper-sized dolls stand next to the Chelly Wood doll (which is a Spin Master Liv doll that has been altered to look like the real doll clothing designer, Chelly Wood), and Chelly is holding up vintage Skipper Simplicity pattern 5861. Over the top of this photo, we see the text that reads, "Who can wear Skipper patterns?"
10-inch doll clothes patterns, 9-inch Dolls, Doll Measurements, Fan Mail, Favorite Books, Holiday Crafts, Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection, Petite Barbie Patterns, Skipper Patterns, Stacie Patterns, Uncategorized, Vintage Skipper

Which dolls can wear Skipper patterns? #Sewing #SewVintage

Note: As an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Last week one of my followers, Lisa, contacted me with some questions about sewing for Skipper. We had a lively exchange over email about how Skipper has changed over the years, and I answered a few of her questions about who can wear various Skipper doll clothes sewing patterns. Today’s blog post will share with … Continue reading Which dolls can wear Skipper patterns? #Sewing #SewVintage

Chelly Wood3 Comments
Six green stocking caps (two with red pom poms) and six red stocking caps (three with black pom poms, two with white pom poms, and one with no pom pom on top) appear on a pink cutting board that shows they are quite tiny, being about an inch tall or so each.
Crafts and Hobbies, For Sale in the Store, Holiday Crafts, Palitoy's Pippa Dolls, Remco I Dream of Jeannie Dolls, Selling Your Crafts, Topper Dawn Dolls, Vintage Skipper, Yarn and Embroidery

The Story of the Miniature Stocking Caps: Part 3

My regular followers will remember a story that I shared last summer about Evelyn, who hand-knitted a plethora of itty-bitty stocking caps before she passed away. I bought them at a church rummage sale, from a woman who seemed very disrespectful toward Evelyn. I opened my online store last summer, and attempted to sell these very tiny handmade stocking caps in a way that would … Continue reading The Story of the Miniature Stocking Caps: Part 3

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A vintage Skipper doll models a red bolero jacket over a black and white gingham dress. She stands beside Simplicity vintage Skipper pattern number 5861 for sewing doll clothes. There's a quilted blue and purple frame surrounding the whole image.
Creative Spark Online Learning, Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection, Tips for Beginners, Tutorials: Sewing Basics, Vintage Skipper

Is there an easy way to sew sleeves? Yes! And it begins with your choice of patterns…

Over the summer, I purchased Simplicity 5861, a vintage pattern for the earliest version of Skipper dolls. This pattern offers pattern pieces for a coat and three different shirt styles, plus a bolero. These garments’ sleeves were remarkably easy to make! You might wonder why that is. Well take a look at the skipper T-shirt that I designed, displayed on a more modern skipper below: … Continue reading Is there an easy way to sew sleeves? Yes! And it begins with your choice of patterns…

Chelly Wood2 Comments
This is a framed thumbnail with the following text written inside a bodice pattern outline: "Vintage Patterns with lessons for beginners" and a small yellow arrow points to text that states, "available after 30 October 2023".
Crissy Family of Dolls, Marie Osmond dolls, Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection, Pepper Dolls (Vintage), Tammy Doll Patterns, Tips for Beginners, Tutorials: Sewing Basics, Vintage Barbie, Vintage Brad, Vintage Francie, Vintage Ken, Vintage Skipper, Vogue Ginny Dolls

Lessons from Vintage Doll Clothes Patterns (Gallery)

NOTE: These are not free doll clothes patterns! If you would like to download any of the hundreds of free, printable sewing patterns that I offer on this website, please view this video to learn how to find free patterns to fit the doll you’re sewing for. With that said, please click on the doll clothes patterns you would like to learn about: I created … Continue reading Lessons from Vintage Doll Clothes Patterns (Gallery)

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Within a purple cotton frame, a turquoise banner reads "free patterns" in white stylized words. Below this banner, a 10 inch Moana doll wears a beautiful strapless celestial ball gown and beside her, a 1980's Mattel Skipper doll models a purple floral gown with tiny straps. The Chelly Wood dot com logo appears under these photos.
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Sew a pretty sundress for 10 inch dolls with today’s free PDF sewing patterns @ ChellyWood.com #Hawaii #DollClothes

For your free patterns and additional tutorial videos, please scroll down to the second set of bullets. Today’s tutorial video will show you how to make a pretty sun dress for 10 inch dolls like Disney’s Moana fashion dolls, vintage 1980’s Skipper, and a number of other dolls with similar measurements. Scroll down to the first set of bullets to see all the dolls this … Continue reading Sew a pretty sundress for 10 inch dolls with today’s free PDF sewing patterns @ ChellyWood.com #Hawaii #DollClothes

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An LOL Surprise! OMG Royal Bee Fashion Doll (9 inches tall) models a pair of handmade Halloween print cotton cargo pants with bright orange big pockets on the sides of the pants, and with these elastic-waist pants, she wears a simple tee shirt. The text over the image says "free pattern" and the Chelly Wood dot com logo appears in the lower left corner of the image which is superimposed on a turquoise blue linen background.
10-inch doll clothes patterns, 9-inch Dolls, Bratz Dolls, Daily Patterns, Disney Princess Dolls, Holiday Crafts, Moana dolls, Pepper Dolls (Vintage), Stacie Patterns, Sunshine Family Dolls, Tutorials: Sewing for Dolls, Vintage Skipper, World of Love Doll Patterns

Sew a pair of Halloween cargo pants for 9 inch dolls with today’s free patterns!

It’s almost Halloween, so I decided to revisit an old pattern of mine, and turn it into a pair of Halloween pants (or Halloween cargo pants) for 9 inch dolls. This was originally designed to be a pair of capris for Skipper and other 10 inch dolls, but when I discovered that they fit Moana and Ideal Pepper as regular-length pants, it got me thinking… … Continue reading Sew a pair of Halloween cargo pants for 9 inch dolls with today’s free patterns!

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The image shows a turquoise blue cotton fabric with the words "inspirational jazz for sewing doll clothes" across the top, followed by three circular photos showing a vintage Skipper doll modeling handmade doll clothes. Below these three circular photos is a larger rectangle, highlighting each outfit Skipper wears in the music video: pants with a 3/4 length sleeve shirt; a 50's style dress with bolero, and a pair of plaid shorts with a matching top. Musical notes dance across the lower right corner of the thumbnail.
Crafts and Hobbies, Doll Collecting, Doll Play Videos, Links, Music Videos for Crafters, Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection, Vintage Skipper

New music video to inspire your crafts… With Skipper Simplicity patterns 5861!

  Sometimes I make doll clothes using other people’s patterns. I take lots of pictures, but what can I do with those pictures, since it’s not my pattern to offer up for free on this website? Today I decided to make another “Sewing Inspiration” video, using Simplicity’s 5861 doll clothes patterns for vintage Skipper, which I’m really enjoying making! As a fan of jazz, I … Continue reading New music video to inspire your crafts… With Skipper Simplicity patterns 5861!

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Here we see a thumbnail with the heading: the Barbie movie: what did you think? Below the heading is a theater filled with hot pink seats and a movie projector running in the background. The Chelly Wood dot com logo appears in one corner. This is the thumbnail image for Chelly Wood's review of the Barbie movie.
Doll Play Videos, Interviews With Crafters, Vintage Barbie, Vintage Ken, Vintage Skipper

Okaaay… So I went to the Barbie movie, and yes, this blog post has spoilers.

I suppose I’m a bit of a prude when it comes to Barbie. There was so much hype about this movie, that I wasn’t going to go see it. I mean, I started sewing for Barbie when I was literally three years old. I’ve had a relationship with this doll longer than the CEO of Mattel has been alive. They couldn’t possibly make a movie … Continue reading Okaaay… So I went to the Barbie movie, and yes, this blog post has spoilers.

Chelly Wood4 Comments
In a purple frame with tiny white polka dots, we see the words "free pattern" hovering above the Chelly Wood dot com logo. In a frame within this frame is a photo of a doll holding up a little green purse or handbag. The handbag is made of green cotton fabric with white felt for a closure. A tiny green button is sewn to the closure flap. The purse his held aloft by a miniature fashion doll's hand by the 1/8 inch ribbon that's used as a purse strap.
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Make a purse or handbag for 6 to 7 inch fashion dolls w/free patterns @ ChellyWood.com

Scroll down to the second set of bullets to download the free printable PDF sewing pattern.* Today’s doll purse will fit a wide variety of tiny dolls. Not all of the dolls that will fit this purse are mentioned in the first bulleted list, so please keep that in mind. Please note: when you click on links to various merchants on this site and make … Continue reading Make a purse or handbag for 6 to 7 inch fashion dolls w/free patterns @ ChellyWood.com

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A woman sits knitting tiny stocking caps in a plush chair. The text over her head reads "the mini stocking caps, part 2."
Crafts and Hobbies, For Sale in the Store, Holiday Crafts, Palitoy's Pippa Dolls, Remco I Dream of Jeannie Dolls, Selling Your Crafts, Topper Dawn Dolls, Vintage Skipper, Yarn and Embroidery

The Story of the Miniature Stocking Caps: Part 2 (PLEASE Comment!)

Yesterday, I told you the story of Evelyn, who hand-knitted a multitude of tiny stocking caps before she passed away. I bought them at a church rummage sale, from a woman who seemed very disrespectful toward Evelyn. And now I’m trying to sell these very tiny handmade stocking caps in a way that honors Evelyn’s hard work. When I say “very tiny,” this is what … Continue reading The Story of the Miniature Stocking Caps: Part 2 (PLEASE Comment!)

Chelly Wood11 Comments
For the fourth of July, 2023, this thumbnail with its pale blue background says, "free pattern" over the top of the ChellyWood.com logo. Beside the text is an image of a Stacie doll from the 1980's modeling a red circle skirt and a white T-shirt. She raises her hand in a wave. Behind her is an American Flag mini quilt.
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Let’s make a circle skirt w/eyelet trim for 1980’s Stacie dolls w/free patterns @ ChellyWood.com #DollClothes

Please scroll down to the second set of bullets for the free printable PDF sewing pattern and links to any additional relevant tutorial videos. Today’s circle skirt project  with eyelet trim was first published here on ChellyWood.com for vintage Skipper, but it also fits modern Stacie dolls, as well as these older Stacie dolls from the 1980’s. I’m publishing it again, with a little different T-shirt … Continue reading Let’s make a circle skirt w/eyelet trim for 1980’s Stacie dolls w/free patterns @ ChellyWood.com #DollClothes

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This is the thumbnail for a #DoApick game, in which we choose which vintage carrying case we would choose. The image shows a vintage Mattel World of Barbie trunk. To play along, click on the image and view the YouTube Shorts video to choose which doll carrying case you would choose from a selection of three options.
Do a Pick! Game, Doll Play Videos, Vintage Barbie, Vintage Skipper

Let’s Do a Pick — Which doll carrying case would you pick from this vintage collection? #DoApick #vintageBarbie

Today’s “Do a Pick” game features the following: Barbie Ballet Box World of Barbie Trunk Skipper Carrying Case 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 — Which doll carrying case would you pick from this vintage collection? #DoApick #vintageBarbie

Chelly Wood3 Comments
On a purple background, we see a Skipper doll from the 1980s wearing a green plaid skirt with matching scarf and a white shirt. She has black shoes on. The skirt reminds us of St. Patrick's Day. The text on the purple background says "free pattern" and the Chelly Wood dot com logo appears in the lower left corner.
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Sew a St. Patrick’s Day scarf for fashion dolls w/today’s free PDF sewing patterns #DollClothesPatterns #HappySaintPatricksDay!

  For your free patterns and tutorial videos, please scroll down to the second set of bullets. Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone! Today’s project is a simple little green paid scarf, which you can make for your 10 inch to 11 inch fashion dolls, like Skipper, vintage Skipper, Barbie, Disney princess dolls, and more. There’s a list of all the dolls that will fit today’s … Continue reading Sew a St. Patrick’s Day scarf for fashion dolls w/today’s free PDF sewing patterns #DollClothesPatterns #HappySaintPatricksDay!

Chelly Wood2 Comments