The image shows two rag dolls. The text says, "PDF Sewing Pattern" and below that, "rag doll patterns!" Plus we see the logo for ChellyWood.com in the lower left corner of the turquoise blue linen frame.

Rag Doll Patterns from Nikki at PinCutSew! #FridayFollow #DollClothesPatterns

Some of you, my followers, have asked me to design a plush doll pattern. Well… I have given that a try, only to discover I’m not very good at it. However another blogger and YouTuber, Nikki from Pin, Cut, Sew Studio is fantastic at making plush doll patterns! Plus, her blog post entitled, “The Ultimate List Of Barbie Sewing Patterns” has sent me over a … Continue reading Rag Doll Patterns from Nikki at PinCutSew! #FridayFollow #DollClothesPatterns

The Chelly Wood doll points to a pink dress. In America, we would call this type of dress (that's sort of strappy at the shoulders and is intended to go over the top of a blouse) a "jumper," but in the UK they don't say "jumper" for this type of dress. The dress, which is very straight (not flared or A-line at all) is pink with tiny multi-colored polka dots.

Upcoming Tutorials, Videos, Projects, and Patterns

Today I’m going to give you a brief preview of the many projects I’m working on behind the scenes. As I’ve said in a previous blog post, I’ve started filming for my next class. That takes a lot of time and concentration, so I have to get lots of blog post materials prepped before I start to work on my Creative Spark coursework. And here’s … Continue reading Upcoming Tutorials, Videos, Projects, and Patterns

In this image, we see a smattering of tools that will be needed to take the Creative Spark course on doll clothes pattern alterations with Chelly Wood. The items include the following: a doll, a ruler with metric and imperial measurements, a pencil with an eraser, graph paper, patterns that don't quite fit your doll, fabric, craft felt, ribbons, elastic, and post-it notes or scratch paper.

“How to Alter Doll Clothes Patterns” Class Update @ctpublishing #DollClothesPatterns #DollCollector

I’m a school librarian in my “day job,” so over spring break, I brainstormed with my editor at C&T Publishing’s Creative Spark online learning platform. I wondered why so many people were curious about my class, but so few people actually signed up for it. My editor and I decided that the general audience didn’t understand a key element of my class: how to re-size … Continue reading “How to Alter Doll Clothes Patterns” Class Update @ctpublishing #DollClothesPatterns #DollCollector

On a purple cotton background, we see the words "filming has begun for a new class" plus a video camera icon atop an image of two different sizes of dolls with tape measures all around them and a set of patterns beneath them. The ChellyWood.com log is in the lower left corner.

Filming has begun for a new Creative Spark class! @ctpublishing #CraftLessons #DollClothesPatterns

Did you vote, back when I posted class topic options, on March 8th? Well it has nearly been a month since then, and the votes are all in! The next Chelly Wood class on the Creative Spark platform will be “How to Design Your Own Doll Pants From Scratch!” I really want to work with 15 inch dolls in particular, although the techniques I’ll be … Continue reading Filming has begun for a new Creative Spark class! @ctpublishing #CraftLessons #DollClothesPatterns

The image shows two flowers embroidered on pink felt, using the Algerian Star and Rambling Rose Stitches with Detached Chain Stitch Leaves

Learning at the Laundromat @ ChellyWood.com #Embroidery and #DollClothesPatterns

Last weekend our dryer quit working, so, as it was raining (and therefore I couldn’t use the laundry line), I had to take my wet laundry to the laundromat to finish. When I was in college, I used my laundromat a lot, so I know that there’s a whole lotta waiting involved at a laundromat. These days most people look at their phones while they … Continue reading Learning at the Laundromat @ ChellyWood.com #Embroidery and #DollClothesPatterns

With a purple frame around it, we see a hand with a tiny sewing project right in the middle of the palm of the hand. Beside this photo, we read the words "sewing in the time of covid." Below these images is the ChellyWood.com logo overshadowed by a graphic image of the corona virus.

Sewing with Covid Fingers… #SewingProjects with #DollClothesPatterns

These are the projects I’m working on. I don’t know if you can tell, but those are some awfully tiny little doll clothes. Teeny tiny! Itsy bitsy! And… I have covid again. Ugh. At least, it’s the form of covid that I always seem to get. Whenever my husband gets covid, I get… something. I’m one of those weird freaky people who gets “covid toes” … Continue reading Sewing with Covid Fingers… #SewingProjects with #DollClothesPatterns

Framed in purple, a brunette Barbie with Steffie face mold stares out of a photo at the camera past the words "who is this lovely lady?" and the logo for ChellyWood.com

Can you help identify this Barbie doll? #CollectibleToys #VintageDolls

Can you help me identify this Goodwill find? I recently discovered this lovely lady at my local Goodwill, for less than $3.00, and what a find! Her hind quarters indicated that she was a vintage Barbie doll, but her face doesn’t look that old. So I think we have a “mix-and-match” going on here. Sometimes a year will be printed on the back of the … Continue reading Can you help identify this Barbie doll? #CollectibleToys #VintageDolls

Framed by a blue and purple quilt, the ChellyWood.com logo accompanies a close-up image of Simplicity 4883 Ideal Tammy doll clothes patterns and a pattern for making a shoe box closet that would work for most 11 inch or 12 inch fashion dolls like Ideal Tammy, Mattel's Barbie dolls, Rainbow High dolls, and dozens of other fashion dolls in this size range.

Make a doll clothes closet out of a shoe box #DollClothesPatterns #ValentinesDayCrafts

The pattern you see my Chelly doll holding up in the image above is a Simplicity 4883 vintage Ideal Tammy doll clothes pattern. But did you notice that it also has a shoebox closet on the front of the pattern? It even gives instructions for making the shoe box closet for your fashion dolls, and it tells you what kinds of notions to buy for … Continue reading Make a doll clothes closet out of a shoe box #DollClothesPatterns #ValentinesDayCrafts

On a square purple cotton background, we see the words "How to alter doll clothes patterns is live" and a bright pink arrow points at a scene from Chelly Wood's class on how to alter doll clothes patterns.

Update on my Creative Spark class… #DollClothes #SewingClass

  Yes, my Creative Spark class, “How to Alter Doll Clothes Patterns” is now live on the Creative Spark platform. You can sign up any time you want! Here are a few FAQ’s people have asked me about my paid course(s): Will you be teaching any more classes for Creative Spark? Yes! To see all of the courses I’m offering, click here on my Instructor’s … Continue reading Update on my Creative Spark class… #DollClothes #SewingClass

On a square purple cotton background, we see the words "How to alter doll clothes patterns is live" and a bright pink arrow points at a scene from Chelly Wood's class on how to alter doll clothes patterns.

YAY! You can sign up for my class on Creative Spark! #DollClothes #DesignClass

  As you can see by the “official announcement” video above, my Creative Spark class, “How to Alter Doll Clothes Patterns” is now live on the Creative Spark platform. You can sign up any time you want! And don’t panic if it seems like too much to add to your plate right now — sometimes our lives get really busy. I totally understand. But for … Continue reading YAY! You can sign up for my class on Creative Spark! #DollClothes #DesignClass

On a purple background of fabric we see the words "which dolls will Chelly design patterns for in 2022?" and below this is an image of a doll silhouette with a question mark superimposed over it.

It’s time for a doll-clothes-designer’s New Year’s resolution!

I’m actually pretty good at following through with my New Year’s resolutions. As my most faithful followers may recall, in 2019 and 2020 I resolved to a.) re-design my website with galleries and b.) switch all JPG patterns to PDFs for easier downloads. I’m still working on the resolution from 2020 (which carried over into 2021 and still goes on to this day) — that’s … Continue reading It’s time for a doll-clothes-designer’s New Year’s resolution!

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

I often get questions about where to buy tiny buttons, small-print fabrics, snaps, itty-bitty buckles, miniature zippers, and even sewing machines and their parts. So I’ve put together a “Buyer’s Guide” to help you with that. This is primarily an affiliate marketing page. As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. However I am an affiliate marketer for other websites too. To learn more … Continue reading Buyer’s Guide

The image shows a turquoise blue fabric square with the words "class announcement" superimposed on top of the fabric square. Inside the square is a photo of someone drafting a doll clothes pattern.

Wondering about my class? I have an update!

Behind the scenes, I’m creating a series of classes that will teach you how to design your own doll clothes. The first of my classes, “How to Alter Doll Clothes Patterns,” is currently available through C&T Publishing’s Creative Spark platform. Click on the link provided to learn more about my own classes and the other wonderful courses you can take on the Creative Spark platform. This first class will teach … Continue reading Wondering about my class? I have an update!

A purple cotton fabric with tiny white polka dots frames a photo of a miniature table-top Christmas Tree that has tiny wrapped gifts under it and miniature Christmas tree ornaments on it. The words "Holiday-themed blog posts" float above the Chelly Wood dot com logo.

Helpful Tips and FAQ’s for People Who Love to Sew for Dolls #DollClothes #SewingTips

It has been about 4 years since I published my “Frequently Asked Questions” page (i.e. FAQ’s), and since I’m doing a series of re-posts while I take time off to make my Creative Spark class, I thought you might enjoy seeing this page. It’s filled with helpful information for those of us who love to sew for dolls! If you click on the question, it … Continue reading Helpful Tips and FAQ’s for People Who Love to Sew for Dolls #DollClothes #SewingTips

The image shows the Chelly Wood doll (really a Spin Master Liv doll that has had her hair died and her face repainted to look like the real doll clothing designer, Chelly Wood) staring at the camera over the top of her lowered glasses. The photo is superimposed over a swatch of turquoise blue linen fabric with the word "hashtag goals" over the top of the photo. In the lower left corner, we see the ChellyWood.com logo.

What does the future hold for Chelly Wood? #Goals #Finances

I’m getting personal this week, taking a break from patterns while I’m on a business trip. I hope you don’t mind. So today I’m going to answer the question, “What does the future hold for Chelly Wood?” In March of 2022, I’ll turn 55, which means I’ll be able to retire from my “day job” as a school librarian, if I want to. But as … Continue reading What does the future hold for Chelly Wood? #Goals #Finances