Category: History and Research

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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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 while learning about Wangarĩ Maathai for #BlackHistoryMonth #SewingProject

  Scroll down to the third set of bullets for the free PDF sewing patterns. With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, let’s make some heart-printed pajama pants for your 10 inch dolls, shall we? Today’s tutorial video will show you how to make the pajama pants I’m showing on my Petite Barbie and my African American Skipper dolls. And be sure to scroll down … Continue reading Sew Skipper or Petite Barbie some pajama pants while learning about Wangarĩ Maathai for #BlackHistoryMonth #SewingProject

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Free fourteen inch doll patterns! A Kendall Wellie Wishers doll appears to be walking left, wearing a swingy summer smock made of red fabric with white hearts. Under the smock, shorts peek out from beneath the hem. Her shoes are made of white felt. Visit ChellyWood.com for free sewing patterns to make these doll clothes for your Wellie Wisher or other 14 to 15 inch dolls.
13-inch doll clothes patterns, 14-inch doll clothes patterns, 15-inch doll clothes patterns, A4 Printer PDF Patterns, Daily Patterns, History and Research, Holiday Crafts, Wellie Wishers Patterns

Make a Valentine’s Day smock and shorts for Wellie Wishers w/today’s free doll clothes patterns! #BlackHistoryMonth #ValentinesDay

Scroll down to the third set of bullets for the free PDF sewing patterns. Today I’m showing you how to make a summer play suit which uses a smock-style A-line top over a pair of shorts with two back pockets. The shorts pattern has existed on my website for a number of years, so you may already have downloaded this pattern, but the smock style … Continue reading Make a Valentine’s Day smock and shorts for Wellie Wishers w/today’s free doll clothes patterns! #BlackHistoryMonth #ValentinesDay

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A GI Joe Action Figure from Hasbro is seen in his "whitey Tighty" undershorts, standing next to a dress form mannequin that says "tape measure Tuesday" on the body of the mannequin. Above this, the text reads, "GI Joe Action Figures" and below the dress form mannequin, it says "with doll clothing designer Chelly Wood" (using the Chelly Wood dot com logo). Click on this thumbnail to go to the Infographic that offers free sewing measurements for GI Joe action figures.
Doll Measurements, GI Joe, History and Research, Tape Measure Tuesday

Tape Measure Tuesday: What are GI Joe Action Figures’ Sewing Measurements? #TapeMeasureTuesday #GIjoe

Scroll down for clarifications to each measurement and to read my research article for Black History Month. 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 include Amazon, Etsy, and the eBay Partner Network. As an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. To … Continue reading Tape Measure Tuesday: What are GI Joe Action Figures’ Sewing Measurements? #TapeMeasureTuesday #GIjoe

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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, History and Research, Sewing Chat, Tips for Beginners

Glossary of Sewing Terms with Pictures: What is a bow, in sewing terms? #BlackHistory #SewingVocabulary

DEFINITION: Made of ribbon or fabric folded back and forth upon itself and sometimes tied to create loops with extensions hanging below a knot, a bow is a decorative element added to garments & accessories for its aesthetic value. This is my own definition. Of course you can google this term to find other definitions as well. As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying … Continue reading Glossary of Sewing Terms with Pictures: What is a bow, in sewing terms? #BlackHistory #SewingVocabulary

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Thumbnail shows a blond haired African American Barbie modeling a handmade pair of pink bell bottom pants or trousers with an elastic waist and a pink and grey and white tee shirt with short sleeves and vertical stripes. The text says, "Free Patterns" and offers the website Chelly Wood dot com as the location to find those free doll clothes patterns for your Curvy Barbie dolls.
11-inch doll clothes patterns, A4 Printer PDF Patterns, Curvy Barbie, Daily Patterns, History and Research, Whole Costumes for Dolls

Sew Bell Bottom Pants for Curvy Barbie and Discover the Fascinating World of Black People with Blond Hair #BlackHistoryMonth #Crafts

Scroll down to the third set of bullets for the free PDF sewing patterns. During the month of February, which is Black History Month here in the United States (where I live), I’m featuring black or African American looking dolls in all of my doll clothes pattern pages. Also, I’m going to offer little bits of history related to famous African Americans, famous people of … Continue reading Sew Bell Bottom Pants for Curvy Barbie and Discover the Fascinating World of Black People with Blond Hair #BlackHistoryMonth #Crafts

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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.
History and Research, Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection, Sewing and Fashion History, Tips for Beginners, Vintage Barbie, World of Love Doll Patterns

A Victorian Barbie pattern for Mary McLeod Bethune #BlackHistoryMonth #SewVintage

I stumbled across this photo of Mary McLeod Bethune online and was utterly mesmerized by it! I mean, just look at the variety of clothing ensembles these young ladies (and Ms. McLeod Bethune) are wearing! Not only does this photo record the early years of an American icon, Mary McLeod Bethune, but it’s a plethora of fashion history, all in one photo! Before I go … Continue reading A Victorian Barbie pattern for Mary McLeod Bethune #BlackHistoryMonth #SewVintage

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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.
History and Research, Sewing and Fashion History, Tutorials: Sewing Basics

Men’s and Women’s Fashion in History #EuropeanHistory #AmericanHistory

The video above comes from the Catherine Sews YouTube channel. I love a good romp through fashion history, and Catherine (who like me is retiring from her teaching career to focus on her own creativity) takes us on a wonderful journey through fashion history in this video, which chronicles both men’s and women’s fashion, from the 1700’s to the 2000’s! I hope you enjoy this … Continue reading Men’s and Women’s Fashion in History #EuropeanHistory #AmericanHistory

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A pink screen shows a video play button and the text reads "History of American Dolls: Video."
Doll Collecting, History and Research, Sewing and Fashion History

Fashion Doll History from the DAR Museum #FashionDolls #History

The video above comes from the DAR Museum’s YouTube channel. As a member of the DAR myself (the Daughters of the American Revolution), I have thoroughly enjoyed some of the podcasts and YouTube videos the DAR Museum has done on sewing history. To see the whole “Making-Meaning-Memory: A Sewn in America Symposium” playlist, please click here. You may recognize some of the dolls featured in … Continue reading Fashion Doll History from the DAR Museum #FashionDolls #History

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A vibrant purple thumbnail featuring the back of a robot's head in profile is seen. Uniquely, the robot has a sewing button as an ear piece and a straight pin wheel below it, suggesting a fusion of technology and crafting. The bold text reads, “Tech talk... Let's discuss technology! Does ChellyWood.com use AI?” This image creatively blends elements of robotics and sewing, engaging viewers in a conversation about the intersection of technology and creativity.
A4 Printer PDF Patterns, Crafts and Hobbies, Doll Collecting, History and Research, Momoko Doll Patterns, Sewing and Fashion History, Sewing Chat, Tammy Doll Patterns

Full Disclosure: Here’s how I use AI (AKA artificial intelligence) in my creative process… #SewingWithAI #SmartSewing

First, it should be noted that some of my competitors on YouTube are non-human AI sewing tutorials. It is my belief that my own sewing tutorials have been used to create these (together with the tutorials made by other human sewists and designers), in many cases without our consent. This is especially true of certain videos that show you how to make and design your … Continue reading Full Disclosure: Here’s how I use AI (AKA artificial intelligence) in my creative process… #SewingWithAI #SmartSewing

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A background of plaid includes lines of dark green, black, Kelly green, and a very thin line of peach or tan. In the center is a large medallion in a peach or tan color. The medallion has been watercolor painted with Kelly green seahorses, their tails whipping into tight swirls. Beneath the center floral motif of the medallion, two seashells are depicted with swirling lines. This Celtic shield reminds us of the central animal and artistic figures in the Witham Shield, which is designed with swirling animals that have been interpreted as swans. The Chelly Wood dot com logo appears at the bottom of the swatch of plaid fabric.
Crafts and Hobbies, Fabric, Favorite Books, For Sale in the Store, History and Research, Links, Paper Crafts, Sewing and Fashion History, Tutorials: Crafts, Yarn and Embroidery

Ancient Celtic artwork inspired my fabric designs… What do you think? #CelticArt #CelticKnot

  Did you know that Wood, my last name, is Scottish? When my aunt visited Scotland, she was surprised by how many Scottish people shared our last name. In fact, the Wood clan has its own registered plaid! (It’s a little different from the plaid I designed, which you’ll see later in this blog post.) Like many people, I’ve done my DNA analysis, and my … Continue reading Ancient Celtic artwork inspired my fabric designs… What do you think? #CelticArt #CelticKnot

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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, History and Research, Sewing Chat, Tips for Beginners, Tutorials: Sewing Basics

Sewing Glossary with Pictures (Gallery)

Please click on the vocabulary term you’d like to learn more about. It will take you to a page that offers even more pictures (sometimes videos), a more thorough definition, and some discussion questions about that sewing term. As of 25 June 2025, this page is under construction, so please keep coming back to see what words I’ve added! Not what you’re looking for? Please … Continue reading Sewing Glossary with Pictures (Gallery)

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