Category: Tutorials: Sewing Basics

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

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
A kitten is shown playing in a sewing room, in a basket full of sewing notions, like thread, ribbon, and tape measures.
Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection, Tips for Beginners, Tutorials: Sewing Basics

How to Tell When a Sewing Pattern Is NOT for Beginners (Part 3: Know Your Notions) #Sewing #FallCrafts

  For the past two Mondays, we’ve been looking at Simplicity doll clothes pattern #4654, which is a super fun pattern for those of us who have been sewing for a while. However, in the image below, I’ve underlined some key vocabulary that tells us this isn’t the ideal pattern for the absolute beginner. With that said, it’s time for my disclaimer statement: some of … Continue reading How to Tell When a Sewing Pattern Is NOT for Beginners (Part 3: Know Your Notions) #Sewing #FallCrafts

Chelly WoodLeave a comment
Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection, Tips for Beginners, Tutorials: Sewing Basics

How to Tell When a Sewing Pattern Is NOT for Beginners (Part 2: Know Your Fabrics) #LearningToSew #Fabrics

  At the end of last month, I did a blog post on how to tell when a sewing pattern is not for beginners, subtitled “Part 1” and today I’m continuing that discussion. It’s not just a lecture, mind you, it’s a discussion! So please add your comments at the bottom. Other visitors to this website will see your comments and learn from them too! … Continue reading How to Tell When a Sewing Pattern Is NOT for Beginners (Part 2: Know Your Fabrics) #LearningToSew #Fabrics

Chelly Wood2 Comments
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

Chelly WoodLeave a comment
The image shows a sewing machine with a tiny pink swatch of fabric between the presser foot and the feed dogs. Thread, bobbins, and other sewing tools are scattered around a white table top near the sewing machine's base. This image represents Chelly's sewing room while she recovers from West Nile Virus.
Crafts and Hobbies, Fan Mail, Sewing Chat, Tips for Beginners, Tutorials: Sewing Basics

How do you finish off your seams? — Please comment! #SewingTips #SewingChat

For today’s “Doll Clothes Sewing Chat,” let’s talk about finishing off a seam. Personally, I use a backstitch, so I’m going to define what that means to me before we get the chat underway… DEFINITION: A backstitch is when you stitch in one direction, you stitch backwards from there, and then you stitch in the forward direction again. This can be done by hand or … Continue reading How do you finish off your seams? — Please comment! #SewingTips #SewingChat

Chelly Wood9 Comments
On a purple background, a woman's hand holds up a yellow card with a blue stripe running down the left side. At the top of the bleu stripe, the Dritz logo appears as white logo image and text on top of a black background. The card holds 10 of the 12 sew-on snaps that were originally place on the card. Two of the snap locations are now vacated and holes are punched through the card where the snaps would have been.
Crafts and Hobbies, For Sale in the Store, Tips for Beginners, Tutorials: Sewing Basics

How to Sew Snaps (AKA Poppers) on Doll Clothes Part 1 –when the snap doesn’t have a hole in the middle #Sewing #DollClothes

Today’s tutorial is an upgraded version of a concept I’ve covered here on ChellyWood.com before. I don’t know if you’ve noticed this, but Dritz snaps sometimes have a hole running through the middle of them (which used to be essential for sewing on snaps), but lately they seem to be making them so you can’t slide a straight pin inside the little hole–if there even … Continue reading How to Sew Snaps (AKA Poppers) on Doll Clothes Part 1 –when the snap doesn’t have a hole in the middle #Sewing #DollClothes

Chelly WoodLeave a comment
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, Doll Measurements, Sewing Chat, Tips for Beginners, Tutorials: Sewing Basics

Do you ever alter seam allowances? And has that worked out okay for you? #SewingChat #SewingVocabulary

For today’s “Doll Clothes Sewing Chat,” let’s talk about seam allowances. Just in case you’re new to sewing, it’s not a bad idea to start with a quick overview of seam allowances… DEFINITION: A seam allowance is a bit of extra room that’s given along the edge of a pattern, to allow for the sewist to include seams in a garment and still have it … Continue reading Do you ever alter seam allowances? And has that worked out okay for you? #SewingChat #SewingVocabulary

Chelly Wood6 Comments
With a purple and turquoise fabric quilt frame, we see see two doll clothes patterns for Mattel Skipper dolls inside the frame with a woman's torso over the top. The woman, who wears a yellow blouse, has her hands up and her shoulders shrugging, with a curious look on her face. There are question marks dancing around her. The ChellyWood.com logo appears to the side of these images.
10-inch doll clothes patterns, 9-inch Dolls, Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection, Skipper Patterns, Tutorials: Sewing Basics

Not all Skipper patterns are alike! #BuyerBeware #DollClothesPatterns

As the heading for today’s blog post states, “Not all Skipper patterns are alike!” And that’s the overall theme for today’s post. However, before I begin talking about the subtle differences between the many renditions of the Skipper doll, please note, many of my links in today’s blog post are affiliate links. To learn more about my affiliate marketing program, please go to my Privacy … Continue reading Not all Skipper patterns are alike! #BuyerBeware #DollClothesPatterns

Chelly Wood6 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, 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
The image shows Enderman from Minecraft. This is an easy-to-sew felt cube with a free printable PDF sewing pattern, which you can download at ChellyWood.com as a PDF file. The Enderman character is trademarked, so this is an "unofficial" pattern, designed by patern designer Chelly Wood. You can make this felt Enderman character or other Minecraft characters into a foot sack, hackey sack (hacky sack) or plush toy using a simple free pattern and felt. Go to ChellyWood.com for this and other fun craft projects for boys and girls to make / sew with felt.
Crafts and Hobbies, Plushies/Stuffed Animals, Tutorials: Sewing Basics

Sewing With Boys: Make a Minecraft (unofficial) felt character w/FREE Patterns @ ChellyWood.com #momofboys #craftymom

Yes, you’ve seen this tutorial and pattern before. I apologize for the repeat, but it’s summer vacation and moms are wondering what to do with their restless kids. This free pattern offers you something fun to do with both boys and girls, and all it requires is a little felt with a needle and thread! And let’s face it, boys LOVE this project! So for … Continue reading Sewing With Boys: Make a Minecraft (unofficial) felt character w/FREE Patterns @ ChellyWood.com #momofboys #craftymom

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

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

Chelly WoodLeave a comment
The thumbnail, framed by a turquoise blue and purple quilt, shows the front of the envelope for Simplicity 5861, a vintage doll clothes pattern for Skipper, from 1964. The text in this thumbnail reads, "Vintage Skipper Simplicity 5861" and under this, we see the Chelly Wood dot com logo.
Old Patterns from Chelly's Collection, Tips for Beginners, Tutorials: Sewing Basics, Tutorials: Sewing for Dolls, Uncategorized, Vintage Skipper

How to sew a hook and eye on doll clothes w/Simplicity 5861 #SewingTips #Crafting

Today I’m going to explain how to sew a hook and eye onto the back of a doll’s garment. Specifically, I’ll be working with the bodice for Dress View 6 in the Simplicity doll clothes wardrobe pattern 5861 for vintage Skipper dolls. Just in case you don’t know the vocabulary, the pink arrow in Figure 1 above points to the “hook” and the green arrow … Continue reading How to sew a hook and eye on doll clothes w/Simplicity 5861 #SewingTips #Crafting

Chelly WoodLeave a comment
The image shows someone doing needlework in a hoop with three skeins of embroidery floss beside them, in the colors blue (top), green (center), and red (bottom). The words at the top of the purple-background-square frame say, "how to thread an embroidery needle" and these words are, indeed, underlined with an embroidery needle.
Crafts and Hobbies, Links, Tutorials: Crafts, Tutorials: Sewing Basics, Yarn and Embroidery

How to thread an embroidery needle (a quick animation)… #Animation #Embroidery

Today’s craft tutorial shows how to thread an embroidery needle… For several years, I was the only crafter on YouTube with a tutorial video showing how to thread your embroidery needle. In fact, that was one of my most popular videos long ago. But recently it occurred to me that the old tutorial was a little outdated. The videography was a little too pixelated, the … Continue reading How to thread an embroidery needle (a quick animation)… #Animation #Embroidery

Chelly WoodLeave a comment
A turquoise blue linen fabric frames a photo of different types and colors of elastic. The text reads, "Fantastic Elastic" and this thumbnail leads to a blog post about the variety of different sizes of elastic available and which ones suit your doll clothes for sewing projects.
Crafts and Hobbies, Tips for Beginners, Tutorials: Sewing Basics

How to Sew Elastic Directly Onto Fabric #SewingTips #SewingHacks

  It’s confession time. I have some great video tutorials with brand new patterns waiting in a queue. Why haven’t I posted them? I’ve lost my voice! I’m currently on spring break from my full-time job as a school librarian, which usually gives me a lot of time to create, edit, and record voice-overs for my doll clothes sewing tutorials. Unfortunately, I’ve caught some sort … Continue reading How to Sew Elastic Directly Onto Fabric #SewingTips #SewingHacks

Chelly Wood8 Comments
This is a Canva-made purple framed image of basic sewing tools, including scissors, thread, straight pins, safety pins, buttons, and some swatches of felt. The text reads "sewing basics" under the photo, with the Chelly Wood dot com logo below the photo.
Crafts and Hobbies, Fan Mail, Interviews With Crafters, Links, Plushies/Stuffed Animals, Tips for Beginners, Tutorials: Sewing Basics

Tips and Tricks for Beginners, Just Learning to Sew @ ChellyWood.com #LearningToSew #SewingTips

Are you new to sewing? Or are you thinking about teaching a child how to sew? If so, you might want to read my blog post about the top 10 sewing supplies you’ll need in a beginner’s sewing basket. I’ve got a playlist of tutorials for the beginning sewists on my YouTube channel as well. It includes video tutorials like: how to do a basic straight stitch when sewing by hand how … Continue reading Tips and Tricks for Beginners, Just Learning to Sew @ ChellyWood.com #LearningToSew #SewingTips

Chelly WoodLeave a comment