The image shows a close-up of a Barbie doll's tummy with a tie-style belt wrapped around her waist. She's wearing a pink bathrobe under the belt. The text says, "DIY Belt" and the whole image plus text is overlaid on top of a purple cotton background with tiny white polka dots. The Chelly Wood dot com logo appears in one corner.

Glossary of Sewing Terms with Pictures: BELTS — What’s the best way to make a belt? #SewingChat #SewingVocabulary

DEFINITION:  Typically used to close or hold up a garment, a belt is usually wrapped around one’s middle section (like the waist or hips) and often clasped or fastened at the front, side, or back of the waist. This is my own definition. Of course you can google this term to find other definitions as well. And as you can see in the images that … Continue reading Glossary of Sewing Terms with Pictures: BELTS — What’s the best way to make a belt? #SewingChat #SewingVocabulary

Various sewing and crafting notions like thread, a tape measure, scissors, and a writing utensil swirl around the words "Sewing Vocab" in a thumbnail frame. This is the default thumbnail for the sewing picture dictionary (or sewing glossary with pictures) on ChellyWood.com, a website that offers free printable PDF sewing patterns for making doll clothes to fit dolls of many shapes and all different sizes.

Glossary of Sewing Terms with Pictures: What are bell bottoms? #SewingChat #SewingVocabulary

DEFINITION:  A pair of pants or jeans that flare from the knee to the hem, like a bell shape. This is my own definition. Of course you can google this term to find other definitions as well. As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please learn more about my affiliate marketing program on the Privacy Policy page. The term “bell bottoms” refers to … Continue reading Glossary of Sewing Terms with Pictures: What are bell bottoms? #SewingChat #SewingVocabulary

Which doll do you want sewing measurements for, as part of the Tape Measure Tuesday blog post theme on Chelly Wood dot com? Please cast your vote! Images include a dress form with the words "TapeMeasureTuesday" superimposed upon the mannequin. Also there's a very large question mark next to the image of a bright pink "vote" button with a mouse icon (hand with pointing finger) pressing the "vote" button. The whole thing is framed with a blank tape measure.

Join #TapeMeasureTuesday: Share Your Doll Measurements and Boost Your Social Media Presence! #Sewing #DollClothes

On Tuesday, June 24th, I published a #TapeMeasureTuesday blog post giving you Skipper’s doll body measurements for sewing purposes. And then on Tuesday, July 1st, I dropped the ball. No Tape Measure Tuesday was posted. Over the ten-plus-years I’ve been blogging, many times I’ve tried to get my Tape Measure Tuesday blog posts to be a regular feature on this website, but time and time … Continue reading Join #TapeMeasureTuesday: Share Your Doll Measurements and Boost Your Social Media Presence! #Sewing #DollClothes

Various sewing and crafting notions like thread, a tape measure, scissors, and a writing utensil swirl around the words "Sewing Vocab" in a thumbnail frame. This is the default thumbnail for the sewing picture dictionary (or sewing glossary with pictures) on ChellyWood.com, a website that offers free printable PDF sewing patterns for making doll clothes to fit dolls of many shapes and all different sizes.

Sewing Glossary with Pictures (Gallery)

Please click on the vocabulary term you’d like to learn more about. It will take you to a page that offers even more pictures (sometimes videos), a more thorough definition, and some discussion questions about that sewing term. As of 25 June 2025, this page is under construction, so please keep coming back to see what words I’ve added! Not what you’re looking for? Please … Continue reading Sewing Glossary with Pictures (Gallery)

Various sewing and crafting notions like thread, a tape measure, scissors, and a writing utensil swirl around the words "Sewing Vocab" in a thumbnail frame. This is the default thumbnail for the sewing picture dictionary (or sewing glossary with pictures) on ChellyWood.com, a website that offers free printable PDF sewing patterns for making doll clothes to fit dolls of many shapes and all different sizes.

Glossary of Sewing Terms with Pictures: What does alteration mean in sewing? #LearningToSew #SewingVocabulary

DEFINITION:  When you are sewing and you make an alteration, you’re just making a change to the shape of the sewing pattern. For example, you may lower a hemline, extend a neckline (like the image above shows), or you may add a seam allowance where no seam allowance had existed before. This is my own definition. Of course you can google this term to find … Continue reading Glossary of Sewing Terms with Pictures: What does alteration mean in sewing? #LearningToSew #SewingVocabulary

Various sewing and crafting notions like thread, a tape measure, scissors, and a writing utensil swirl around the words "Sewing Vocab" in a thumbnail frame. This is the default thumbnail for the sewing picture dictionary (or sewing glossary with pictures) on ChellyWood.com, a website that offers free printable PDF sewing patterns for making doll clothes to fit dolls of many shapes and all different sizes.

Glossary of Sewing Terms with Pictures: What is an A-line dress or skirt? #SewingChat #SewingVocabulary

The image above shows what an A-line dress might look like before it is sewn, and yes, as the article title suggests, I’m building a glossary of sewing terms with pictures. Today’s “sewing vocabulary” post is all about A-line skirts and dresses, which will start off the “Letter A” section of the glossary. Please scroll down to add to the discussion on this topic. (Look … Continue reading Glossary of Sewing Terms with Pictures: What is an A-line dress or skirt? #SewingChat #SewingVocabulary

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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 !

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?"

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

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!

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

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.

A couple of tips for getting the elastic to go through a casing #SewingTips #Elastic

You may remember that I extended an invitation to submit questions a couple of weeks back. Well today’s blog post answers one of those questions regarding the pulling of elastic through a casing. Before we dive into this topic, I need to make my required disclaimer statement: As an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. To learn more about how affiliate marketing works on … Continue reading A couple of tips for getting the elastic to go through a casing #SewingTips #Elastic

The thumbnail of this "sewing video trends" topic shows a woman worrying as she watches a video of someone sewing. Around the video are images of a dollar sign, a megaphone, a purple colored recycle symbol, and an arrow pointing at YouTube as it states "LOOK!"

“Sewing Trends I’m NOT a Fan Of” — guest video from Julija Gobere (Sewing Julia) #Trending #Sewing

  Today’s blog post is sort of a “guest post” from sewing YouTuber, Julija Gobere, AKA SewingJulia (see link for her channel). Her video is used with permission. After watching this video, I thought… “Uh-oh! Did I give a sob story about how much it costs me to run this website, so people would help me out financially?” Ugh. I don’t wanna be that sewist! … Continue reading “Sewing Trends I’m NOT a Fan Of” — guest video from Julija Gobere (Sewing Julia) #Trending #Sewing

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.

Do you have any questions you would like Chelly Wood to answer in a future blog post? Please join the #SewingChat !

Today I’m going to address the fifth and final question from Kim, one of my followers who is learning to sew. In my email dialog with Kim, she asked a number of questions about learning to sew, and specifically learning to design her own doll clothes. Her questions delved into whether the paid courses I offer are going to help her in her quest to … Continue reading Do you have any questions you would like Chelly Wood to answer in a future blog post? Please join the #SewingChat !

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.

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