Category: Sewing and Fashion History

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
Fan Mail, Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection, Sewing and Fashion History, Tips for Beginners, Topper Dawn Dolls, Vintage Barbie

Is there a good sewing pattern for Miniature dollhouse-sized dolls and six-inch action figures? #MeMadeMonday #ActionFigures

On Friday I received a message from someone who was looking for patterns to fit the little tiny 6 inch Phicen dolls/action figures. McCall’s 2970 is one such pattern. In the image at the top of this post, I’ve included a list of dolls that the pattern envelope suggests. But I also think many dollhouse-sized dolls and possibly even the Phicen 6 inch action figures … Continue reading Is there a good sewing pattern for Miniature dollhouse-sized dolls and six-inch action figures? #MeMadeMonday #ActionFigures

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Here we see a photo of the Marie Osmond 6664 "Butterick's Personality Doll Wardrobe" envelope and its photo of an actual Marie Osmond doll modeling a red western shirt with white front yokes and a pair of shiny black pants. The pattern options to the doll's right are showing a yellow jumper (in the USA sense of "jumper" -- a sleeveless dress which is sometimes worn over a shirt): a floor length caftan dress with ribbon ties at the sleeve and a waistband; a blue, V-neck long-sleeved shirt with cuffs and a waistband; a long-sleeved white shirt with a collar and cuffs; a purple evening dance dress with a zig-zag-cut skirt and a bodice with straps that tie at the shoulders; a short camel-colored caftan blouse with a waistband and ribbon ties at the sleeves' ends; a green flared ice skater's skirt; a green body suit with long sleeves and a turtle neck. The Chelly Wood doll stands to the left of the envelope. The Marie Osmond doll is on the pattern envelope itself because Butterick 6664 is designed to fit the Marie Osmond Barbie doll.
Fabric, Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection, Sewing and Fashion History, Tips for Beginners, Vintage Barbie

What does “directional fabric” mean? #BeginnerSewing #SewingHack

Have you ever wondered why floral and polka dot fabrics are so popular? One of the reasons why people love polka dots and florals is because they’re usually non-directional fabrics. But what does that mean? Well, that’s what I’ll address today, and I’ll let you know how I made alterations to a Marie Osmond doll dress when I didn’t have enough of a directional fabric. … Continue reading What does “directional fabric” mean? #BeginnerSewing #SewingHack

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In this image, we see the top half of the Barbie Advance 9938 doll clothes sewing pattern. View 1 shows a typical just-below-the-knee strappy sun dress in yellow fabric. View 2 shows an Asian-style sheath dress with side buttons that run from the Mandarin collar across the bust, to the underarm. This View 2 dress is in solid blue. There's an arrow pointing to the View 3 dress, which is made with a pink bodice and a white floor length full skirt that's dotted with tiny pink flowers. This is a strapless party gown, and the doll wearing it is a cartoon-ish blond ponytail Barbie with a pink ribbon in her hair. The text which has an arrow pointing to the View 3 dress says "Advance 9938 View 3."
Curvy Barbie, Holiday Crafts, Jem and the Holograms, Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection, Sewing and Fashion History, Tammy Doll Patterns, Tips for Beginners, Vintage Barbie

Are there any sewing patterns that will fit big bust dolls? #MeMadeMonday #CustomDolls

When you own a doll with a big bust or a curvier figure than the average modern day Barbie, it can be challenging to find sewing patterns to fit her. People reach out to me now and then asking for patterns to fit dolls with curvier figures, from a variety of different doll making companies. So today’s blog post will show you an evening gown … Continue reading Are there any sewing patterns that will fit big bust dolls? #MeMadeMonday #CustomDolls

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Chelly Wood doll stands next to the pattern envelope for vintage Simplicity 9097, a 1970s era wardrobe for Barbie dolls. Among these patterns are the following ensembles: view 1: a wedding dress with empire waist, high collar, and bell sleeves; view 2: a similar evening gown shown in purple; view 3 a mod dress with pleated skirt and sleeveless bodice; view 3 B: the same mod dress shown with a short cape and scarf; view 4: a turtleneck blouse with raglan sleeves and a long skirt; view 5: the same blouse with a pair of trousers and a long, below-the-hip length vest.
Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection, Sewing and Fashion History, Tips for Beginners, Vintage Barbie

Learning to sew with vintage Simplicity 9097 Barbie patterns #MeMadeMonday #SewRetro

Today’s blog post is a collection of lessons I’ve learned while sewing the Simplicity 9097 doll clothes patterns. As with other blog posts on my Vintage Pattern page, I’ll be adding to this list of lessons as I create different outfits using this pattern. Before I go on, I need to make my required disclaimer statement: As an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. … Continue reading Learning to sew with vintage Simplicity 9097 Barbie patterns #MeMadeMonday #SewRetro

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This image is a quilt-like square with the Chelly Wood logo turned on its side. Beside the logo, we see a photo of Simplicity doll clothes pattern 8466 from the late 1960's or early 1970's. The dolls on the cover of this pattern are dressed in various fashions including one long dress pattern that uses an empire waist.
Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection, Sewing and Fashion History, Tips for Beginners, Vintage Barbie

How to alter a turtleneck so it’s a regular style of shirt #MeMadeMonday #SewingHack

The numbers for the View 5 and View 6 outfits are covered up by the price tag in the image above, but today’s blog post will explain how I removed the turtleneck collar from these two vintage Barbie shirt patterns, to create a more basic shirt neckline for this easy-to-make shirt. You may want to look back at last week’s post, so you can see … Continue reading How to alter a turtleneck so it’s a regular style of shirt #MeMadeMonday #SewingHack

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The Simplicity 9097 pattern envelope appears on the right. On the left, there’s a close-up of the doll clothes outfits for the View 3 skirt, top, cape and scarf. The blue “ra-ra” skirt is 1960’s style super-short with two pleats in the front. The white top is sleeveless with side darts. The scarf appears to be a white ribbon with red polka dots, tied around the doll’s neck. The blue cape is waist length and has two white buttons at the top of an asymmetrical closure.
Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection, Sewing and Fashion History, Tips for Beginners, Vintage Barbie

Sewing Ribbon to Fabric: Which ribbon would you pick and why? #SewingLessons #SewVintage

Last week’s Monday blog post was about finding someone else’s unfinished doll clothes project in an envelope for a doll clothes sewing pattern that I bought at a second-hand store. I decided to embrace the unfinished project, which was just a skirt piece for the View 3 dress from the Simplicity 9097 doll clothes pattern that you see pictured above. But there was a problem… … Continue reading Sewing Ribbon to Fabric: Which ribbon would you pick and why? #SewingLessons #SewVintage

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McCall's 6260 vintage Barbie patterns: view A shows a ponytail Barbie wearing a pink gingham dress with lace skirt overlaid and a matching pair of pink gingham panties (shown below the doll on a silver graphic line); View B shows a silver evening gown (strapless) with matching stole and a pink ribbon tied at the waist; View C shows a pink swing coat with very large pockets and lots of buttons; View D shows an orange Kimono style bath robe with white trim and a white belt tied at the waist; View E shows a pair of high-waisted black pants with a little bolero style pink top over the top of them; View F shows a blue bikini with tiny pink polka dots.
Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection, Sewing and Fashion History, Tips for Beginners, Vintage Barbie

Unfinished Sewing Projects #MeMadeMonday #SewVintage

Have you ever discovered someone else’s unfinished craft project or sewing project in an unexpected place? And if so, were you tempted to finish the project they started? Today’s blog post is about one such unfinished sewing project! I bought the envelope you see in the image above, and when I got home and opened it up… there was a UFO inside! (An unfinished object.) … Continue reading Unfinished Sewing Projects #MeMadeMonday #SewVintage

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McCall's 6260 vintage Barbie patterns: view A shows a ponytail Barbie wearing a pink gingham dress with lace skirt overlaid and a matching pair of pink gingham panties (shown below the doll on a silver graphic line); View B shows a silver evening gown (strapless) with matching stole and a pink ribbon tied at the waist; View C shows a pink swing coat with very large pockets and lots of buttons; View D shows an orange Kimono style bath robe with white trim and a white belt tied at the waist; View E shows a pair of high-waisted black pants with a little bolero style pink top over the top of them; View F shows a blue bikini with tiny pink polka dots.
Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection, Sewing and Fashion History, Tips for Beginners, Vintage Barbie

Learning to sew with vintage McCall’s 6260 Barbie patterns #MeMadeMonday #SewRetro

Today’s blog post is a collection of lessons I’ve learned while sewing McCall’s 6260 doll clothes patterns. As with other blog posts on my Vintage Pattern page, I’ll be adding to this list of lessons as I create different outfits using this pattern. Before I go on, I need to make my required disclaimer statement: As an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. To … Continue reading Learning to sew with vintage McCall’s 6260 Barbie patterns #MeMadeMonday #SewRetro

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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 #StPatricksDayFabric

  Did you know that Wood, my last name, is Scottish? When my aunt Bertha 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 … Continue reading Ancient Celtic artwork inspired my fabric designs… What do you think? #CelticArt #StPatricksDayFabric

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

Vogue Craft 9985 doll clothes sewing pattern for Barbie and Ken #MeMadeMonday #Sewing

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 Barbie, Ken, 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 from my Vogue Craft … Continue reading Vogue Craft 9985 doll clothes sewing pattern for Barbie and Ken #MeMadeMonday #Sewing

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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.
Barbie Patterns, History and Research, Holiday Crafts, LOL Surprise Dolls, Made to Move Barbie, Petite Barbie Patterns, Queens of Africa, Sewing and Fashion History, Stacie Patterns

Here are a few ideas I didn’t cover for Black History Month, but maybe next year? #BlackHistory #SewingProjects

Can you believe February is almost behind us now? I had taken so many photos of my Black dolls and done so much research for Black History Month, but other than today, there are literally only two days left of this month. And I’ve barely gotten the ball rolling! So I’m going to show you some of the projects I had planned and perhaps cover … Continue reading Here are a few ideas I didn’t cover for Black History Month, but maybe next year? #BlackHistory #SewingProjects

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Free sewing patterns! Make an Easter outfit for Creatable World with today's free patterns at Chelly Wood dot com. Black Creatable World with dreadlocks models a feminine white lace trimmed blouse and pastel polka dot ruffled skirt.
10-inch doll clothes patterns, A4 Printer PDF Patterns, Creatable World Dolls, Daily Patterns, History and Research, Holiday Crafts, Sewing and Fashion History, Whole Costumes for Dolls

Make a pretty Easter outfit for Creatable World dolls with today’s free patterns! #EasterCrafts #SewingProjects

Scroll down to the third set of bullets for the free PDF sewing patterns. Today’s free skirt pattern was first posted for Barbie, but as you can see in the image above, it does fit the Creatable World dolls as more of a midi-length ruffle skirt. But please don’t be put off by the mention of 11 inch fashion dolls on the pattern. You’ll want … Continue reading Make a pretty Easter outfit for Creatable World dolls with today’s free patterns! #EasterCrafts #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, Skipper Patterns, Tips for Beginners, Vintage Barbie, Vintage Skipper

Sewing a blouse for modern Skipper using a vintage Skipper doll’s patterns! #MeMadeMonday #BlackHistory

If you’ve been following my Monday blog posts, then you’ll know that my modern Skipper doll, shown above, is supposed to look like one of Mary McLeod Bethune‘s students in a vintage black-and-white photo from the early 1900’s. To learn more about Mary McLeod Bethune‘s profoundly important work in the fields of education and civil rights, please click here. Before I go on, I need … Continue reading Sewing a blouse for modern Skipper using a vintage Skipper doll’s patterns! #MeMadeMonday #BlackHistory

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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, Favorite Books, History and Research, Holiday Crafts, Interviews With Crafters, Links, Sewing and Fashion History

Celebrating everyday people for #BlackHistoryMonth with #BlackGirlsSew

  Have you ever heard of Black Girls Sew? Watch the video above and you’ll learn a little about it. Or visit their website using this link. As part of my celebration of Black History Month, on Fridays, I’m honoring everyday people like the ladies who organized Black Girls Sew, a non-profit organization that works to teach kids how to sew. Before I go on, … Continue reading Celebrating everyday people for #BlackHistoryMonth with #BlackGirlsSew

Chelly Wood2 Comments
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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