Category: Tutorials: Sewing Basics

These are primarily non-doll-related sewing tutorials. For example: how to backstitch; how to sew snaps; etc…

Image shows a tiny Chelsea doll wearing a ball gown and black felt jacket. Overlay says, "Easy-sew projects for kids: how to alter a felt jacket for small dolls."
Chelsea, Kelly Doll, Polly Pocket, Tutorials: Sewing Basics

How to Make Simple #Sewing Alterations for #Felt #DollClothes

As part of my “Easy-Sew Projects for Kids” series, I thought it would be a good idea to teach my beginning sewists that patterns can be altered. We call this “alterations” in official sewing terminology. This video demonstrates that an alteration can be as easy as snipping away extra felt from a little doll coat. Of course, when working with fabric, it’s not usually that … Continue reading How to Make Simple #Sewing Alterations for #Felt #DollClothes

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Image shows Mattel's Chelsea doll wearing a red felt coat with long sleeves. Beneath her coat, she wears a folk-pattered dress with lace around the hem. Caption reads "Easy-sew projects for kids: doll coat."
Chelsea, Kelly Doll, Polly Pocket, Tutorials: Sewing Basics, Whole Costumes for Dolls

Free #sewing pattern for tiny #dolls’ coat w/ easy #diy tutorial

Of all the “Easy-Sew Projects for Kids” that I’ve posted, this might be the easiest one yet! If you’re brand new to sewing, or if you want to teach a child or grandchild how to sew, this little felt doll coat is a fantastic first project! Below you’ll find the super-simple pattern I’ve created for making this jacket. I’ve also included a link to the pattern … Continue reading Free #sewing pattern for tiny #dolls’ coat w/ easy #diy tutorial

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Chelsea, Kelly Doll, Polly Pocket, Tutorials: Sewing Basics

Sew a #Felt Jacket for a #Miniature Doll w/ FREE #Pattern @ ChellyWood.com

Here’s a quick preview of what we’ll be working on for the rest of this week. I’m going to teach you how to make a super-easy jacket for tiny dolls like Mattel’s Chelsea® and similar-sized dolls, using my free jacket pattern (posting tomorrow). Some of these “small dolls” are taller than others, as you’ll see in my videos, so on Friday, I’ll show you how to … Continue reading Sew a #Felt Jacket for a #Miniature Doll w/ FREE #Pattern @ ChellyWood.com

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Image of Mattel's Chelssea Chelsea doll wearing a hand-made long-sleeved dress with caption that reads "Easy-Sew Projects for Kids With FREE Pattern"
Chelsea, Kelly Doll, Polly Pocket, Tutorials: Sewing Basics

Easy #Sewing Projects for #Kids: Make a Dress to Fit Most Small #Dolls

Yesterday I showed you a preview of this project. Well here’s the tutorial! Along with this free tutorial, I’m providing a pattern: Easy-Sew Universal Small Doll Dress Pattern It is, as you may recognize, the same pattern we used with the folk dress that I posted two weeks ago and the lace dress that I posted last week, but in this case, you’ll want to cut … Continue reading Easy #Sewing Projects for #Kids: Make a Dress to Fit Most Small #Dolls

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Image of Mattel's Chelsea doll dressed in a felt, cloth, and lace dress made entirely by hand. Overlay says, "Easy-sew projects for kids: felt and lace dress". Visit Chelly Wood dot com for free, printable sewing projects to make for Chelsea doll, Kelly Doll, Barbie dolls, American Girl Dolls, Madame Alexander dolls, and more.
Chelsea, Tutorials: Sewing Basics, Whole Costumes for Dolls

Easy #Sewing Project for #Kids: #DIY Chelsea® Dress

Yesterday I showed you a preview of this project. Well here’s the tutorial! Along with this free tutorial, I’m providing a pattern: Easy-Sew lace dress pattern for Chelsea It is, of course, the same pattern we used with the folk dress that I posted last week, but in this case, you’ll want to cut out pieces A and B. This particular dress can be created … Continue reading Easy #Sewing Project for #Kids: #DIY Chelsea® Dress

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Curvy Barbie, Petite Barbie Patterns, Skipper Patterns, Tall Barbie, Tutorials: Sewing Basics, Tutorials: Sewing for Dolls

Kids #Sew: Make a #Dolls Dress w/ Free #Fashionistas Pattern

It seems like this particular tutorial has already been a hit on my YouTube Channel, as I only posted it three days ago, and it already has almost 50 hits. Wow! In case you aren’t aware, I posted the pattern for this Easy-Sew Project yesterday, but it might be even easier to search for the pattern link on my Gallery Page (to be posted after … Continue reading Kids #Sew: Make a #Dolls Dress w/ Free #Fashionistas Pattern

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Visit ChellyWood.com for free, printable sewing patterns and tutorials for dolls of many shapes and sizes. This image shows a Polly Pocket doll waving her hand. She wears a gathered blue striped skirt and yellow felt tank top. The image also has overlapping words that say, "Easy-Sew Projects for Kids: how to gather fabric." The tutorial that goes with this image demonstrates for beginners how to gather a doll's skirt.
Tutorials: Sewing Basics

#DIYprojects for #Kids and #Moms: how to gather a #dolls skirt @ ChellyWood.com

Yesterday I posted the first tutorial video in my “Easy-Sew Projects for Kids” series, showing everyone how to make a dress for Polly Pocket™. One of the steps in making most doll dresses is gathering the fabric. Since it extended the length of my Polly Pocket™ dress-making video, I thought I’d shorten future videos by including this how-to video in the links of future Easy … Continue reading #DIYprojects for #Kids and #Moms: how to gather a #dolls skirt @ ChellyWood.com

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Image of hand holding snap with overlying words "How to Sew Snaps on Fabric"
Crafts and Hobbies, Interviews With Crafters, Tutorials: Sewing Basics

Learn to #Sew Snaps on #Fabric w/This Easy #Tutorial from ChellyWood.com

It has been a while since I created this “How to Sew Snaps on Fabric” tutorial video, so I thought it would be a good idea to revisit it on my blog. If you’re wondering why I make patterns and tutorials without charging a fee, please visit the “Chelly’s Books” page, and that should explain my general motivations. Overall, I love to sew, design doll clothes, … Continue reading Learn to #Sew Snaps on #Fabric w/This Easy #Tutorial from ChellyWood.com

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Image of girl's hands cutting out a sewing pattern overlaid with words "How to Print Patterns"
Tutorials: Sewing Basics

It’s #SewEasy to Print #Patterns From ChellyWood.com #dollPhotography

  This is actually a re-post of one of my most useful videos. I get a lot of questions about how to print my patterns from this website, so I made this video to demonstrate how it’s done. All of my patterns are found on the Doll Clothes Patterns page (use the tab at the top, or just click that link), which is noted in the … Continue reading It’s #SewEasy to Print #Patterns From ChellyWood.com #dollPhotography

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The image shows an 18" (eighteen inch) doll wearing a traditional embroidered neckerchief in the style of 17th century Sweden.
Tutorials: Sewing Basics, Tutorials: Sewing for Dolls, Yarn and Embroidery

#Neckerchief #Embroidery and Sewing #Tutorial from ChellyWood.com Includes FREE Pattern

The neckerchief shown in this video is part of my Swedish Traditional Costume for 18″ dolls like American Girl dolls and similar-sized dolls. If you’re wondering why I make patterns and tutorials without charging a fee, please visit the “Chelly’s Books” page, and that should explain my general motivations. Overall, I love to sew and embroider, and I think it’s important to share my talent with the world. Want … Continue reading #Neckerchief #Embroidery and Sewing #Tutorial from ChellyWood.com Includes FREE Pattern

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Click on the link above for the tutorial video. This image shows a needle with embroidery floss "dancing" through the eye of the needle easily. The overlay says, "How to Thread an Embroidery Needle" and the tutorial video is found at ChellyWood.com
Tutorials: Sewing Basics

How to #Thread an #Embroidery Needle Tutorial Video From ChellyWood.com #Crafty

The next part of our Swedish traditional costume is the neckerchief. (I’ll be posting the free pattern next week.) I embroidered mine with little flowers, so I’m going to share a few embroidery videos and tips with you, so you can make a neckerchief like mine, if you so desire. If you like my free patterns and tutorials, please show your appreciation by doing one of … Continue reading How to #Thread an #Embroidery Needle Tutorial Video From ChellyWood.com #Crafty

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Click on the link above for the tutorial video. This image shows a spool of thread and the text says, "How to Knot When Sewing" (meaning when one sews by hand). The tutorial associated with this image is found at ChellyWood.com
Tutorials: Sewing Basics, Yarn and Embroidery

How to Tie a Knot Using a Needle and Thread @ ChellyWood.com #Sewing #KidCrafts #crafty

Like yesterday’s tutorial, this is easy-peasy for those folks who sew all the time, but this week I’m introducing the basics for hand-stitched embroidery. Tying knots is essential stuff! Usually, though, when I’m doing embroidery, I don’t dip the needle into the fabric like it shows in the video; instead, I dip the needle into a stitch that’s on the underside of the design… then … Continue reading How to Tie a Knot Using a Needle and Thread @ ChellyWood.com #Sewing #KidCrafts #crafty

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Click on the link provided with the image's caption, in order to get to the tutorial video. This image shows red felt fabric inside a bamboo embroidery hoop. The wording says, "How to put fabric into embroidery hoops" and the image is associated with a tutorial video found at ChellyWood.com
Tutorials: Sewing Basics, Yarn and Embroidery

How to Put #Fabric Into an #Embroidery Hoop @ ChellyWood.com #Stitchery

Well here’s the first of my embroidery tutorials. We’ll need to know how to put our felt into an embroidery hoop before we start stitching embroidered designs our pocket-purse! If you’re an expert embroiderer, this is old hat, but for the newbie, it’s essential information. So for those of you who are already good at embroidery, please be patient while I set things up for … Continue reading How to Put #Fabric Into an #Embroidery Hoop @ ChellyWood.com #Stitchery

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Image of spool of grey thread with needle through it. Overlay says, "Basic Sewing Stitch Tutorial"
Tutorials: Sewing Basics

Teach a Child to Hand #Sew With this Easy Straight-Stitch #DIY #Tutorial @ ChellyWood.com

I’ve had a few requests for videos demonstrating some of the most fundamental concepts in sewing. For example, perhaps you’ve seen my video that shows “How to Sew a Snap on Fabric“. The video below is another basic tutorial, showing people how to sew a straight stitch. This would be an ideal video for teaching a young child how to sew by hand. If you like my … Continue reading Teach a Child to Hand #Sew With this Easy Straight-Stitch #DIY #Tutorial @ ChellyWood.com

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Click on the link provided, to find the tutorial video. This image shows orange felt with a black whipstitch pattern across folded fabric. The overlay says, "How to hem a garment by hand, using the whip stitch. The video is found at ChellyWood.com
Tutorials: Sewing Basics

How to Whip Stitch a Hem @ ChellyWood.com #embroidery #sewing #crafts

Occasionally people who are new to sewing ask me questions that are old-hat to those of us who are long-time seamstresses. One question I was recently asked is, “How do you hem a garment without a sewing machine?” I use the whip stitch to hem most of my garments. It’s a fairly easy stitch, and it creates a nearly invisible hem. Here’s how it’s done: … Continue reading How to Whip Stitch a Hem @ ChellyWood.com #embroidery #sewing #crafts

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