Category: Crafts and Hobbies

Chelly’s favorite hobby is sewing for dolls, but sometimes she makes other stuff too. Keep watching for more tutorials and patterns for her other crafty projects.

The image shows three rolled cylinders of pink satin, each tied with a pink satin ribbon. The text reads "for sale: satin remnants!" The ChellyWood.com logo appears in one corner of the image.
Crafts and Hobbies, Fabric, For Sale in the Store, Littlechap Dolls, Selling Your Crafts

Still for sale in my store: pink satin fabric remnants! Make me an offer… #JoannFabric #FabricForSale

Two years ago I posted a pattern and tutorial video, showing you how to make a beautiful, 1960’s style, pink satin dress, which will fit Judy Littlechap. But did you happen to see the list of dolls which will fit in this lovely dress? Let’s have a look at that list again: Okay, now you’re going to want to know more about the satin remnants … Continue reading Still for sale in my store: pink satin fabric remnants! Make me an offer… #JoannFabric #FabricForSale

Chelly WoodLeave a comment
The text says, "Shoes for Ken" and it displays (left to right, top to bottom) a black pair of work boots, a pair of sneakers that look similar to Vans, a pair of Reebok style Ken sneakers, a pair of bright blue wingtip style shoes with gold laces, a pair of rust colored sneakers with angled white stripes, and a pair of men's mules or clogs.
Doll Collecting, Doll Shoes, Vintage Ken

Ken shoes! Let’s talk about Ken shoes, accessories, and fashions, old and new… #VintageKen #DollShoes

I grew up in the 1970’s, when Ken dolls were few and far between on the shelves in stores. Even harder to find was any type of fashion for Ken dolls. And based on the kinds of emails I get relatively frequently, it’s still a lot harder to find clothes and accessories for Ken than it is to find clothes and accessories for Barbie. Today … Continue reading Ken shoes! Let’s talk about Ken shoes, accessories, and fashions, old and new… #VintageKen #DollShoes

Chelly Wood7 Comments
The image shows a laundry line of doll clothes that fit 14 inch, 15 inch, 16 inch, or 17 inch dolls like Wellie Wishers, Hearts for Hearts girls, vintage Velvet dolls, or Best Friends Club BFC Ink dolls. There are free printable sewing patterns for making all of these doll clothes at ChellyWood.com
Crafts and Hobbies, Fabric, Fan Mail, Links, Tips for Beginners

How to Care for Your Handmade Doll Clothes #HelpfulTips for #DollCollectors

Today’s blog post on taking care of your handmade doll clothes is actually a re-post of an article I wrote several years ago. However, this topic is one I seem to get questions about from time to time, so maybe, while I’m “out of the office,” it’s a good opportunity to revisit it. Nobody likes to see a naked doll laying around, but did you … Continue reading How to Care for Your Handmade Doll Clothes #HelpfulTips for #DollCollectors

Chelly Wood4 Comments
A simple graphic of a turquoise blue button sits atop a purple gingham fabric background, with the Chelly Wood dot com logo in the lower left corner of this thumbnail image.
Crafts and Hobbies, Fabric, History and Research, Interviews With Crafters, Links, Sewing and Fashion History, Yarn and Embroidery

How are fabrics made? How are buttons made? The answers may surprise you! #Sewing #SewOver50

  First of all, obviously I didn’t make the video I’m showing you, however I’ve watched it and thoroughly enjoyed it! And since I’m busy moving out of the library where I work (I’m retiring from my job as a full-time school librarian), I thought you might like something fun to watch while I’m away from my home office for a bit. If you enjoyed … Continue reading How are fabrics made? How are buttons made? The answers may surprise you! #Sewing #SewOver50

Chelly WoodLeave a comment
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, Interviews With Crafters, Sewing Chat, Tips for Beginners, Tutorials: Sewing Basics

How do you make a casing? #SewingChat #SewingVocabulary

DEFINITION: A casing is a tunnel-like section of a sewn object, through which one may pull a drawstring, curtain rod, or elastic. This is my own definition, but you can find the Merriam-Webster definition here as well. As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please learn more about my affiliate marketing program on the Privacy Policy page. DISCUSSION QUESTION: How do you make … Continue reading How do you make a casing? #SewingChat #SewingVocabulary

Chelly WoodLeave a comment
Images of a heart pincushion, colorful strips of rickrack, three rolled swatches of fabric, and a photo of a woman sewing at her sewing machine accompany the text which reads: Crafting Moments Inspired by Classical One Hour Music Playlist at Chelly Wood dot com.
Crafts and Hobbies, Music Videos for Crafters

Classical music for crafting… #SpringCrafts #ClassicalMusic

Every now and then I need time to catch up with life. Today is one of those days. So I’ve created a classical music video to inspire your springtime craft projects. It helps my YouTube channel grow if you like, comment, subscribe, or add my music videos to your playlists. I have not monetized this video because it is a “collection of songs by different … Continue reading Classical music for crafting… #SpringCrafts #ClassicalMusic

Chelly WoodLeave a comment
Inside a purple frame, talk bubbles express Q for Questions and A for Answers. The text reads, "Sewing tips for beginners." This is a thumbnail for a Q and A blog post for beginners who are learning to sew and want to "pick the brain" of an experienced doll clothing designer, Chelly Wood.
Charity Work, Crafts and Hobbies, Fan Mail, Selling Your Crafts, Sewing Chat, Tips for Beginners

Time for a Q and A: Once I’ve made doll clothes using Creative-Commons-marked patterns, am I allowed to sell what I’ve made? #Copyright #SewingPatterns

Every now and then I get a message in my inbox from some thoughtful person who wants to make sure they are okay to sell products made using my free doll clothes patterns. It’s such a kind gesture! I really appreciate that! So let’s take a look at that question: Once I’ve made doll clothes using your Creative-Commons-marked patterns, am I allowed to sell what … Continue reading Time for a Q and A: Once I’ve made doll clothes using Creative-Commons-marked patterns, am I allowed to sell what I’ve made? #Copyright #SewingPatterns

Chelly Wood2 Comments
Text says, "Earth Day sewing challenge at Chelly Wood dot com" surrounding a wardrobe of Barbie or Pedigree Sindy fashion doll clothes including shirts, pants, skirts, and accessories.
11-inch doll clothes patterns, Barbie Patterns, Charity Work, Contests, Crafts and Hobbies, Doll Makeovers, Fabric, Holiday Crafts, Links, Sindy, Whole Costumes for Dolls

Sustainable Sewing: Eco-Friendly Projects for Earth Day — #EarthDay #SewingChallenge

For today, I created a little YouTube Short, challenging everyone to create a whole wardrobe from recycled fabrics! Hooray for Earth Day!!! (It’s April 22nd — but you don’t have to call that your done-with-this-project deadline.) All you have to do, to join the challenge, is use a small garment, like a child’s tee shirt (that’s what I used) and upcycle that fabric into a … Continue reading Sustainable Sewing: Eco-Friendly Projects for Earth Day — #EarthDay #SewingChallenge

Chelly Wood4 Comments
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, Interviews With Crafters, Sewing Chat, Tips for Beginners, Tutorials: Sewing Basics

What would you like me to teach for my next online class? Please join the #SewingChat !

It’s time to plan my next online class, and I’d like your help! If you visit the C&T Publishing online courses page, you’ll find that some of their best-selling classes range between $4.99 and $10.00, so I’ve been thinking about designing and offering an online course in that price range. To be fair, it would have to be a reasonably simple class at that price. … Continue reading What would you like me to teach for my next online class? Please join the #SewingChat !

Chelly Wood3 Comments
Through a small window of a photo, we see a doll's upper body only, where she wears a bolero jacket or coat that's trimmed in green rickrack to match the color of the dress she wears. There are white rickrack trim images bordering the photo, and above all of this, the thumbnail asks, "When do you add rickrack trim?"
Crafts and Hobbies, For Sale in the Store, Lottie dolls, Sewing Chat, Tips for Beginners

When to Add Rickrack Trim to a Garment #Fashion #SewingTips

Do you see that green zigzag trim along the edges of my Lottie doll’s bolero jacket? That’s rickrack! Webster’s dictionary describes rickrack trim as “a flat braid woven to form zigzags and used especially as trimming on clothing.”* But how does a person decide that a garment needs rickrack trim, and at what point in the garment’s creation does one attach it to the garment? … Continue reading When to Add Rickrack Trim to a Garment #Fashion #SewingTips

Chelly WoodLeave a comment
Within a turquoise blue frame, we see a lazy susan turntable with a gingham cotton coverlet, sitting on a kitchen table with a chair in the background. Inside the lazy susan are two spice bottles and a bottle of extra virgin olive oil. The text reads "free sewing pattern" while an arrow points to the gingham coverlet on the lazy susan turntable.
Crafts and Hobbies, Daily Patterns, Tutorials: Crafts

How to make a washable lazy susan cover — easy cleaning! #LazySusan #Condiments

Please scroll down to the bullets for the free printable PDF sewing pattern and links to any additional relevant tutorial videos. I needed a lazy susan for my kitchen because my condiments and spices were being kept in a messy pileup on the counter. So I bought a lovely wicker and wooden lazy susan from Blubird Haven Giftshop on Etsy. I planned to keep olive … Continue reading How to make a washable lazy susan cover — easy cleaning! #LazySusan #Condiments

Chelly WoodLeave a comment
On a purple thumbnail, an African American Chelsea doll models a handmade Easter outfit. Beside her, the words "free sewing pattern!" accompany the Chelly Wood dot com logo.
6-inch doll clothes patterns, Chelsea, Daily Patterns, Holiday Crafts, Tutorials: Sewing for Dolls, Whole Costumes for Dolls

Make Chelsea and Barbie matching Easter outfits with today’s free sewing patterns @ ChellyWood.com #Easter #CraftProjects

Scroll down to the second set of bullets to download the free printable PDF sewing pattern. Easter is just a hop, skip, and a jump away, so if you’re going to make some doll clothes for a child, this little felt top and matching Easter-egg-print skirt for a tiny Chelsea doll is just what you need, since it only takes about an hour to make … Continue reading Make Chelsea and Barbie matching Easter outfits with today’s free sewing patterns @ ChellyWood.com #Easter #CraftProjects

Chelly WoodLeave a comment
Within this turquoise blue frame, a 1980's Barbie models a pink handmade summer top and separate Easter-egg print miniskirt with lace trim. The text reads, "Free sewing patterns!" The Chelly Wood dot com logo appears beneath the text.
11-inch doll clothes patterns, Barbie Patterns, Daily Patterns, For Sale in the Store, Holiday Crafts, Vintage Barbie, Whole Costumes for Dolls

Sew an Easter outfit for Barbie with today’s free doll clothes sewing patterns @ ChellyWood.com! #Crafts #Barbie

For your free patterns and tutorial videos, please scroll down to the second set of bullets. On March 13th, I gave you a new sleeveless summer top pattern for Barbie, but at the time, I didn’t have anything new designed to go with the sleeveless top. Then, on March 27th, I gave you a quick, easy-to-sew pattern and free tutorial video for making a lace-trimmed … Continue reading Sew an Easter outfit for Barbie with today’s free doll clothes sewing patterns @ ChellyWood.com! #Crafts #Barbie

Chelly WoodLeave a comment
A vintage Ideal Tammy doll stands next to the envelope for the Simplicity 4883 doll clothes pattern for Tammy. The doll wears the exact same dress pictured on the cover art from the Simplicity 4883 pattern: a ball gown with a red satin bodice and straps, a white cotton circle skirt (floor length) that's covered with tulle and dotted with tiny red satin roses. The text says "View 2 Prom Dress" under "Simplicity 4883." The chellywood.com logo appears in the image as well.
Links, Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection, Selling Your Crafts, Tammy Doll Patterns

Where to buy miniature satin roses, now that JoAnn’s is closed #JoAnn #Miniatures

  Some of you may recall seeing a fun little stop-motion video short that I did, in which my “Chelly doll” is wearing a lovely gown with a red satin bodice, tulle skirting, and miniature satin roses. That short was a video I created for a contest at the school where I work. That doll dress was actually designed to fit Ideal Tammy dolls (not … Continue reading Where to buy miniature satin roses, now that JoAnn’s is closed #JoAnn #Miniatures

Chelly WoodLeave a comment
On a white table, we see all kinds of tools one would find in a sewing room: thread, scissors, a tape measure, and doll clothes patterns. Beside these and in the lower left corner is a blue alarm clock. The implication is that there's not enough time in the day for all the sewing projects!
Crafts and Hobbies, Sewing Chat, Tips for Beginners

How to make more time for sewing projects — three quick tips! #SewingTips #SewingProjects

As many of my regular followers know, I’m a full-time school librarian in my “day job,” and that’s a busy job to have! So every now and then, people ask me, “How do you find time for your sewing projects?” Today’s blog post will show you three quick tips for getting lots of little crafty sewing projects done while maintaining a full-time job (and whatever … Continue reading How to make more time for sewing projects — three quick tips! #SewingTips #SewingProjects

Chelly Wood2 Comments