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.

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, Creative Spark Online Learning, Fan Mail, Interviews With Crafters, Sewing Chat, Tips for Beginners

Do you HAVE to know how to read a sewing pattern? #SewingForBeginners #QandA

Two weeks ago I posted the first of a series of questions from one of my followers, Kim. Today’s blog post addresses the third of Kim’s questions, and today I’ll be addressing her question and my answer here, on ChellyWood.com, as the third blog post in a four-part blog post series. Before I do that, though, I need to make my official “Affiliate Marketing Disclaimer” … Continue reading Do you HAVE to know how to read a sewing pattern? #SewingForBeginners #QandA

Chelly Wood2 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, Creative Spark Online Learning, Fan Mail, Interviews With Crafters, Tips for Beginners

Did you learn to sew for people first? Or did you sew for dolls first? #SewOver50 #QandA

Last Wednesday I posted the first of a series of questions from one of my followers, Kim. Today’s blog post addresses the second of Kim’s questions, and today I’ll be addressing her question and my answer here, on ChellyWood.com, as the second blog post in a four-part blog post series. But I want to hear the opinions of my followers as well, so please read … Continue reading Did you learn to sew for people first? Or did you sew for dolls first? #SewOver50 #QandA

Chelly Wood3 Comments
The thumbnail shows a woman at her desk with a laptop. Above her is a chart of some type. The text reads "tax time! How much did ChellyWood LLC earn this year?" This is followed by the logo for Chelly Wood dot com at the bottom of the image, along with a "down" arrow.
Charity Work, Crafts and Hobbies, Doll Shoes, For Sale in the Store, Interviews With Crafters, Selling Your Crafts, Uncategorized

How much money did ChellyWood.com earn in 2024? #TaxTime #FullDisclosure

Yup! It’s time once again to pay Uncle Sam! For those of you living outside the US, the character of Uncle Sam — shown as a cartoon image on the right hand side of the poster I’m holding in the image above — is a personification of our government, here in the United States. Perhaps you knew that, but I thought I’d explain, just in … Continue reading How much money did ChellyWood.com earn in 2024? #TaxTime #FullDisclosure

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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, Creative Spark Online Learning, Fan Mail, For Sale in the Store, Interviews With Crafters, Tips for Beginners

How can I improve my sewing game? #SewWithMe #QandA

In my inbox, from time to time, I get questions about how to sew an item of doll clothing that I’ve designed, how to design a specific item of doll clothes, or generally how to improve one’s sewing game. Back in the middle of December, I received the following question from someone named Kim: “Since I’m a beginner… you know how a mother bird teaches … Continue reading How can I improve my sewing game? #SewWithMe #QandA

Chelly Wood2 Comments
Crafts and Hobbies, Doll Collecting, Fan Mail, History and Research, Interviews With Crafters, Links, Vintage Barbie

Estrela Barbie: a rare treasure! #Collectibles #Toys

Have you ever heard of the Estrela Barbies? After a fan from Brazil named Debora left a lengthy comment about them on one of my blog posts, I contacted her to find out more about these rare and highly collectible Barbie dolls. Today’s blog post will give you the details, as they were explained to me by Debora, in my online interview with her. Before … Continue reading Estrela Barbie: a rare treasure! #Collectibles #Toys

Chelly Wood4 Comments
The text in the dialog bubble reads "Back in style?" and the Chelly Wood doll stands in an old-fashioned 1950's style kitchen, wearing a cartoonish ruffled apron over the top of her red check shirt and black pants. She holds a cartoon-like platter with a cartoon-like pink and white layer cake on top. This thumbnail image accompanies a video about how fashion repeats itself in history.
Crafts and Hobbies, History and Research, Interviews With Crafters, Sewing and Fashion History, Sewing Chat

Do you see old fashions coming back into style? #Fashion #FashionHistory #Style

On YouTube, I enjoy watching Nicole Rudolph’s videos about fashion in history, but this one about fashions that repeat themselves was particularly interesting to me. If you’ve followed my doll history articles, which I posted on Tuesdays over the past 10 weeks or so, you’ll remember that a doll’s clothing isn’t always indicative of the era in which it was made. This video gives us … Continue reading Do you see old fashions coming back into style? #Fashion #FashionHistory #Style

Chelly Wood2 Comments
On a turquoise blue linen background, a pair of cartoon-like pinking shears lie open, with their teeth exposed. The text reads "pinking shears" and the Chelly Wood dot com logo appears at the bottom of the image.
Fan Mail, Interviews With Crafters, Sewing Chat, Tips for Beginners, Tutorials: Sewing Basics

Are pinking shears a useful tool for beginners who are just learning how to sew doll clothes? #SewingTips #DollClothes

I recently received an interesting “fan mail” question about pinking shears from a follower named Debora. She wanted to know my thoughts on pinking shears. Debora asked, “Chelly, how do you use pinking shears, anyway? All over the Internet, you can find crafters who seem to get really excited about them and use them for everything. Especially among people who sew for dolls, because honestly, … Continue reading Are pinking shears a useful tool for beginners who are just learning how to sew doll clothes? #SewingTips #DollClothes

Chelly Wood2 Comments
On a purple gingham background, a hand holds a sewing needle for hand stitching, and the entire image is surrounded by a heart shape made by the thread from the eye of the needle. This is a silhouette image on the purple gingham background.
Creative Spark Online Learning, Interviews With Crafters, Tutorials: Crafts

A Christmas Gift Idea to Give Yourself #SelfLove #Christmas

I’m a school librarian in my “day job,” but I’ll be retiring this summer. And once retired, I was hoping to make more classes like the two I’m currently offering through C&T Publishing’s Creative Spark online learning platform. Last year, most of the money I did earn toward maintaining this website, was through my online courses. But to be perfectly honest with you, the year … Continue reading A Christmas Gift Idea to Give Yourself #SelfLove #Christmas

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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, McCall’s Crafts pattern 4400, 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 … Continue reading Tips for Buying Used Doll Clothes Patterns on eBay @ ChellyWood.com #AmSewing #DollClothes

Chelly Wood4 Comments
Please visit ChellyWood.com for free printable sewing patterns and tutorial videos for making doll clothes to fit dolls of many shapes and all different sizes. This is a text box with a purple and turquoise quilted look to it. The text states, "Sewing tips for beginners: clothing items to avoid." This is the fourth installment in a four part blog article series which reviews the topics, terms, and items to watch out for on a pattern's instructions if you're just starting to learn sewing. Visit ChellyWood.com for free printable sewing patterns and to read the other blog articles in this series for beginners just learning how to sew.
Interviews With Crafters, Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection, Tips for Beginners, Tutorials: Sewing Basics

How to Tell When a Sewing Pattern Is NOT for Beginners (Part 4: Difficult Garments) #SewEasy #SewingFun

This is the last installment of a four-week journey to discover what makes a pattern difficult for beginners who are just starting out with their very first sewing projects. By “beginners,” I’m referring to adults learning to sew as well as children of all ages who are learning to sew. We’ve been studying a single pattern, Simplicity doll clothes pattern #4654, which is a fun … Continue reading How to Tell When a Sewing Pattern Is NOT for Beginners (Part 4: Difficult Garments) #SewEasy #SewingFun

Chelly Wood2 Comments
Three black question marks on a purple gingham background. Each question mark is turned at a slight angle, to create an arc of question marks. The image below the question marks is the Chelly Wood dot com logo. The purple gingham represents fabric.
Crafts and Hobbies, Doll Clothes for Sale, Doll Collecting, Doll Makeovers, Interviews With Crafters, Vintage Barbie

Can you help doll collector Mandi Lee identify these items? #FridayFollow #DollCollecting

  I follow lots of different doll-related YouTubers, but recently I started following Mandi Lee, largely because this unboxing video was so much fun to watch! In this video, YouTuber Mandi Lee goes through a bunch of vintage dolls, miniatures, and doll clothes that she found on Facebook Marketplace. She asks viewers to help her identify some of the cool items she has in this … Continue reading Can you help doll collector Mandi Lee identify these items? #FridayFollow #DollCollecting

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Here we see the Chelly Wood doll from the ChellyWood.com website and the ChellyWood1 YouTube channel. She holds up a sewing pattern for 18 inch doll clothes. The pattern's cover image shows Simplicity 18" doll clothes pattern #4654 which includes patterns for making a lined hooded raincoat or coverup, a tank top and skort, a short-sleeved everyday dress, a sunny sleeveless top with capri pants, a T-shirt with cargo pants, and a crop top with skort or shorts. There's also an 18-inch doll pictured on the pattern wearing a denim jumper with overall straps. The doll wears a striped tee shirt under the overall-style jumper. (This is "jumper" in the US sense of the word -- not a "sweater" as we'd say in the US, but more of a dress with the style of overalls). The watermark on this photo reminds us to visit ChellyWood.com for free, printable sewing patterns for making doll clothes to fit dolls of many shapes and all different sizes. This image also has a header that says, "Today's topic of discussion: what makes a pattern difficult for beginners?" And in fact, if you navigate to the link to the article that accompanies this image, doll clothing designer, YouTuber, and writer Chelly Wood discusses all the features that make this particular pattern difficult for a beginner who is just learning to sew. This article is designed to help anyone who teaches sewing classes, is teaching another person how to sew, or people who are, themselves, just learning to sew, what to avoid when purchasing store-bought patterns.
Interviews With Crafters, Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection, Tips for Beginners, Tutorials: Sewing Basics

How to Tell When a Sewing Pattern Is NOT for Beginners (Part 1) #SewingForDolls #Handmade

I started sewing doll clothes when I was very young, back in the early 1970’s, but I didn’t really learn how to read patterns and pattern instructions until I was about 10 or 12. Reading the instructions on the back of a pattern can seem daunting to a child who is learning to sew, and therefore I don’t advise it for kids under age 10. … Continue reading How to Tell When a Sewing Pattern Is NOT for Beginners (Part 1) #SewingForDolls #Handmade

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

What do you do to prevent fray in your sewing projects? #SewingChat #SewingVocabulary

DEFINITION: Fray is when the threads or weave of a fabric or ribbon, or the braiding or twisting of string or yarn begins to unravel. 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: What … Continue reading What do you do to prevent fray in your sewing projects? #SewingChat #SewingVocabulary

Chelly Wood2 Comments
This is the street view of the store, Home Grown Quilts, in Grangeville, Idaho, with its "Viking Husqvarna" sewing machine sign hanging from the rafters outside the store.
Crafts and Hobbies, Holiday Crafts, Interviews With Crafters, Links, Pillow Patterns, Yarn and Embroidery

Let’s take a tour of Home Grown Quilts in Grangeville, Idaho!

Last year for the 4th of July (American Independence Day), I went to visit family in North Idaho, and while I was there, I went to a quilting store called Home Grown Quilts. Breezi, the store manager’s daughter-in-law, who seemed to be in charge of the store around lunchtime that day, wasn’t just standing behind the cut counter scrolling through Tic-Toc jokes on her phone. … Continue reading Let’s take a tour of Home Grown Quilts in Grangeville, Idaho!

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With a tiny quilt framing it, we see an image of the McCall's 5462 doll clothes pattern on the right and an image of a Barbie doll modeling the shirt from view B in the McCall's Barbie clothes pattern on the left. An arrow points from the pattern to the doll's shirt.
Interviews With Crafters, Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection, Tips for Beginners

How to sew a boatneck top, using McCall’s Barbie pattern 5462 #SewingTips #DollClothesPatterns

If you’ve only recently started to sew doll clothes, you may feel a little challenged by projects that use a boatneck. According to Webster’s online dictionary, a boatneck top has “a wide neckline that extends toward the tips of the shoulders.” Don’t be discouraged when you see this type of neckline because I’m going to give you some tips by sharing one such project, from … Continue reading How to sew a boatneck top, using McCall’s Barbie pattern 5462 #SewingTips #DollClothesPatterns

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