Category: Interviews With Crafters

Do you sew doll clothes or doll accessories? Would you like to provide an interview for ChellyWood.com? Contact Chelly through her “Submit a Question” form, providing a link to your website. Let her know you’re interested in doing an interview.

Interviews With Crafters, Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection

Holly Hobby Patterns Past and Present! #HollyHobby #DollClothes

Are you old enough to remember the original Holly Hobby? Today’s vintage pattern on the discussion table is a Holly Hobby doll and clothes (Simplicity #6006) pattern which is marked with a copyright from 1973. In the comments, feel free to write your memories of Holly Hobby. Or, if you’re a fan of the new Holly Hobby show on Hulu, leave a comment on that … Continue reading Holly Hobby Patterns Past and Present! #HollyHobby #DollClothes

Chelly Wood6 Comments
The square turquoise-and-purple frame looks like a miniature quilt frame surrounding the image of Simplicity doll dress pattern number 4364 and the new Chelly Wood logo. Visit ChellyWood.com to read the article that accompanies this image, entitled, "What are the easiest doll dress patterns to sew?"
Interviews With Crafters, Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection, Tips for Beginners

What are the easiest doll dress patterns to sew? #18inchDolls #DollClothes

There are several factors that contribute to the ease or difficulty in sewing a doll dress pattern. In my humble opinion, as a doll clothing designer who has been sewing for half a century, here are four factors to consider when picking out an “easy-to-sew” doll dress pattern: Pattern maker Type of skirt Sleeves Collars   Let’s talk about pattern makers. The Simplicity pattern company … Continue reading What are the easiest doll dress patterns to sew? #18inchDolls #DollClothes

Chelly WoodLeave a comment
The image shows a purple, white, and turquoise colored infographic with the title "Buyer's Gide" at the top, and the following elements listed within the text boxes of the infographic: buttons, snaps, ribbon, elastic, labels, zippers. The watermark says "ChellyWood" to remind you that you can get lots of doll clothes sewing advice and free patterns at ChellyWood.com
Buyer's Guide, Crafts and Hobbies, Doll Measurements, Fan Mail, Interviews With Crafters, Links, Tips for Beginners, Tutorials: Sewing Basics

Buyer’s Guide for Sewing Doll Clothes #SewingTips

I’ve compiled a few questions I’ve been asked over the years, about where to buy fabric, notions, buckles, buttons, snaps, ribbon, elastic, and more. So today’s blog post will hopefully address answers to some of the more common questions I get in my inbox. This is just a list of where to buy and what to buy, but keep in mind that it’s always good … Continue reading Buyer’s Guide for Sewing Doll Clothes #SewingTips

Chelly WoodLeave a comment
The image shows the Chelly Wood look-alike doll (actually a repainted Spin Master Liv doll) holding up Simplicity doll clothes pattern 2296, which is designed by Simplicity pattern company to fit 18 inch dolls like the American Girl dolls. this doll clothes pattern includes five different styles of dresses and two pants suit separates. The image is watermarked with the Chelly Wood dot com logo.
Interviews With Crafters, Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection

Simplicity patterns can inspire your own pattern designs! #Simplicity #DollClothes

Can you guess which of my own doll clothes designs was inspired by one of the outfits on this Simplicity doll clothes pattern #2296? I don’t copy other people’s patterns, but sometimes I sew Simplicity doll clothes patterns to get ideas about how to create my own patterns and how my own version of the pattern might fit together. For example, the Crissy “beach comber” … Continue reading Simplicity patterns can inspire your own pattern designs! #Simplicity #DollClothes

Chelly WoodLeave a comment
This image shows a smattering of printed doll clothes patterns laying on a turquoise-colored fabric with a mottled print.
Chelly's Books, Interviews With Crafters, Links

How to Find Free Doll Clothes Patterns Online and… Changes Are Underway at ChellyWood.com #SewingBlog #SummerProjects

This website is best known for its free, printable sewing patterns for doll clothes. It also offers free printable sewing patterns for craft projects and free tutorial videos for embroidery. (Click those links for easy access.) The tutorial at the top of this page is designed to help you navigate ChellyWood.com’s current layout, using your desktop or laptop computer. If you’re more comfortable using a … Continue reading How to Find Free Doll Clothes Patterns Online and… Changes Are Underway at ChellyWood.com #SewingBlog #SummerProjects

Chelly Wood4 Comments
Here we see the Chelly Wood doll holding up the McCall's crafts pattern #5462, which is under discussion in this blog post.
Fan Mail, Interviews With Crafters, Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection

I made a poodle skirt with this old pattern, but I had a few problems… #SewingFail #SewingProjects

Last Monday I shared an old vintage Barbie pattern that I thought would be ideal for sewing a poodle skirt. But I mentioned that these older patterns are designed for vintage Barbie, and those older Barbies have a narrower waist than today’s Barbies. So what pattern would be better for a modern Barbie? Well before giving you my answer to that question, I wanted to … Continue reading I made a poodle skirt with this old pattern, but I had a few problems… #SewingFail #SewingProjects

Chelly Wood4 Comments
The image shows the Chelly Wood doll holding up Mattel Sew-Easy pattern #2896, which offers a series of patterns for vintage Barbies including a shirt-like dress, a circle skirt with waistband, a T-shirt like top, a Jackie-Kennedy style of dress, a pair of pajamas with top and bottom, a pair of capri pants with boat neck shirt, and a pretty sleeveless dress with ruffle. These patterns are not for sale on ChellyWood.com, but you can find similar patterns that can be downloaded for free on ChellyWood.com (a website best known for its free printable sewing patterns for making doll clothes to fit dolls of many shapes and all different sizes).
Fan Mail, Interviews With Crafters, Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection

What pattern would be best for a Barbie Poodle Skirt? — fan mail answers @ ChellyWood.com #Sewing #DollClothes

People use my Contact Form to ask me all kinds of questions about sewing doll clothes. One question I’ve seen a few times in the past couple of years is… What pattern would you recommend for sewing a Barbie-sized poodle skirt? A classic poodle skirt is usually made using a circular pattern with a waistband. Traditionally, the skirt will be embellished with a felt image … Continue reading What pattern would be best for a Barbie Poodle Skirt? — fan mail answers @ ChellyWood.com #Sewing #DollClothes

Chelly Wood2 Comments
The image shows the Chelly Wood doll holding up a McCall's Crafts sewing pattern which displays the finished projects of a Barbie sized wedding dress, various pants and shirts, a cape, and evening gowns. The article that goes with this image offers advice for buying sewing patterns for making doll clothes, using the eBay auction platform. Please visit ChellyWood.com for additional sewing ideas plus free printable sewing patterns and tutorial videos for making doll clothes to fit dolls of many shapes and all different sizes.
Buyer's Guide, Interviews With Crafters, Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection, Selling Your Crafts

Tips for Buying Used Doll Clothes Patterns on eBay @ ChellyWood.com #AmSewing #DollClothes

  Have you ever purchased doll clothes sewing patterns on eBay? I have. In fact, the pattern pictured above was one I purchased about a year ago. Yes, the pattern you see in the image above is outdated, but there are some timeless patterns in this set, as well as out-of-style fashions. The wedding dress pattern can be used for a Disney princess character dress, … Continue reading Tips for Buying Used Doll Clothes Patterns on eBay @ ChellyWood.com #AmSewing #DollClothes

Chelly Wood2 Comments
Image shows a little doll seated at her sewing machine. Behind her is a doll-sized ironing board. Her tiny, pale blue coffee cup sits at the ready near her sewing machine. The overlay says, "ChellyWood.com free printable sewing patterns for dolls of many shapes and sizes."
Crafts and Hobbies, Interviews With Crafters, Tips for Beginners

Sewing machine advice for making tiny doll clothes @ ChellyWood.com #SewingMachines #SewingAdvice

Last week I got a great question from a follower named Jacqueline: “Hello! I’m excited to get started learning to sew Barbie & Ken clothes. What advise do you have for me to keep my sewing machine from tangling thread & bunching the fabric when sewing such small tops with light weight fabric? I can sew fleece and pant weight fabrics fine but want to … Continue reading Sewing machine advice for making tiny doll clothes @ ChellyWood.com #SewingMachines #SewingAdvice

Chelly Wood6 Comments
101 Ways to Support this Website, Chelly's Books, Crafts and Hobbies, Interviews With Crafters, Selling Your Crafts, Tips for Beginners, Tutorials: Crafts, Tutorials: Sewing Basics, Tutorials: Sewing for Dolls

Please vote! @ ChellyWood.com #SewingProjects #DollClothes

As I said on Wednesday last week, my agent has been in talks with C&T Publishing, and they have asked me to teach a class on their Creative Spark Online Learning platform. Last week I asked, “What type of class would you like me to teach?” but very few people left comments. So let’s try Plan B… If I offered the following classes, which one … Continue reading Please vote! @ ChellyWood.com #SewingProjects #DollClothes

Chelly Wood11 Comments
101 Ways to Support this Website, Chelly's Books, Crafts and Hobbies, Interviews With Crafters, Selling Your Crafts, Tips for Beginners, Tutorials: Crafts, Tutorials: Doll Photography, Tutorials: Sewing Basics, Tutorials: Sewing for Dolls

Chelly Wood will be teaching a class! Please offer your ideas! @ ChellyWood.com #SewingClass #CraftClass

I have some fun and exciting news! My agent has been in talks with C&T Publishing, and they have asked me to teach a class on their Creative Spark Online Learning platform. Your input is needed, my faithful followers! What type of class would you like me to teach? Please leave a comment to help generate some ideas. Here are some thoughts I’ve had, but … Continue reading Chelly Wood will be teaching a class! Please offer your ideas! @ ChellyWood.com #SewingClass #CraftClass

Chelly Wood8 Comments
The image shows the ChellyWood doll with a humorous face. Her tongue is sticking out, and she wears a huge smile. There's a dialog bubble above her head that says L O L with an exclamation point.
Crafts and Hobbies, Fan Mail, Interviews With Crafters, Selling Your Crafts, Tutorials: Sewing for Dolls

Announcement: Chelly Wood will now begin affiliate marketing, and here’s why… #FreeThings #FreeStuff

Last summer, when I discovered that this website had reached its limit of how many patterns could be loaded onto a free WordPress site, I was shocked and discouraged. I’d grown to love this website! I had built it, together with my daughters, to be a sort of “journal” of my doll craft experiences, but it grew to be so much more! Income from this … Continue reading Announcement: Chelly Wood will now begin affiliate marketing, and here’s why… #FreeThings #FreeStuff

Chelly Wood6 Comments