The image shows a needle and thread hovering over a swatch of heart-shaped lace. The overlay says, "Sewing with lace" and this header leads to a tutorial video that explains the many types of lace and what they are used for when sewing doll clothes.

How to add a lace embellishment to one of my free shirt patterns @ ChellyWood.com #SewWithMe #SewingHacks

Today I want to talk about how easy it is to add a swatch of lace to the front of a garment, to give it an extra kick! Lace is considered a notion or embellishment, and it isn’t a necessary addition to a garment. But it can really jazz up an ordinary shirt or blouse. Before I go on, I need to make my required … Continue reading How to add a lace embellishment to one of my free shirt patterns @ ChellyWood.com #SewWithMe #SewingHacks

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 are your favorite and least favorite fabrics to work with? #SewingChat #Fabrics

While writing yesterday’s blog post, I realized I had already given away both of the shirts I’d made for my little Disney Animators doll, without ever trying them on other dolls. So I didn’t have a clue which dolls could fit into yesterday’s pattern. And of course, I needed this information, in order to create the bulleted list of dolls that can fit the pattern. … Continue reading What are your favorite and least favorite fabrics to work with? #SewingChat #Fabrics

Thumbnail takes you to a page where you can find free patterns for sewing athletic wear for Disney Princess Toddler dolls. The Chelly Wood dot com logo appears in once corner near the Disney Animators 13 inch doll modeling these handmade athletic clothes.

Sew a raglan-sleeved shirt for Disney Princess Toddler dolls and other 13 inch dolls w/today’s free sewing patterns @ ChellyWood.com #SlowFashion #Upcycled

  Scroll down to the third set of bullets for the free PDF sewing patterns. I’m always trying to encourage my followers, friends, and family to recycle and re-use garment fabric whenever possible. In today’s video, you’ll see that I have made my doll’s athletic shirt (and her matching athletic pants/joggers) out of a child’s used shirt. So I’m practicing what I preach! What a … Continue reading Sew a raglan-sleeved shirt for Disney Princess Toddler dolls and other 13 inch dolls w/today’s free sewing patterns @ ChellyWood.com #SlowFashion #Upcycled

Eco-Friendly Christmas: Handmade Denim Ornaments Created by a Beloved Family Member

Today I just want to focus on someone special in my life… my mother-in-law, Anita. She’s a gifted quilter, knitter, painter, glassmaker, gardener — the list could go on and on — and this year she took the festive spirit to a new level by crafting unique, handmade Christmas ornaments and decorations for her house. Using found objects and recycling denim from old pairs of … Continue reading Eco-Friendly Christmas: Handmade Denim Ornaments Created by a Beloved Family Member

Baby Alive doll clothes free sewing patterns for making a felt sleeveless shirt and an elastic waist simple schoolgirl's skirt. Visit Chelly Wood dot com for the free patterns. From the blog post, this image leads to the instructions page, where you can download the free printable PDF sewing patterns for making these doll clothes for Baby Alive and similar sized dolls.

Make a super easy peasy outfit for Baby Alive with today’s free patterns! #SewEasy #CraftersCorner

Scroll down to the third set of bullets for the free PDF sewing patterns. Yesterday I posted pictures of three “little girl” dolls wearing this same sleeveless felt shirt and easy-to-sew elastic-waist skirt. After I’d finished that blog post, I thought to myself, “I wonder if this also fits Baby Alive…?” So I tried it on her. Lo and behold, it did! Before I go … Continue reading Make a super easy peasy outfit for Baby Alive with today’s free patterns! #SewEasy #CraftersCorner

Camille Wellie Wishers doll models a handmade sleeveless felt shirt over a Christmas "schoolgirl skirt" made of green fabric with a white rickrack trim running along the knee-length edge of the skirt. Text says, "free patterns!" and the Chelly Wood dot com logo appears as a reference for where you can find the free doll clothes patterns for Wellie Wishers and many other dolls.

Quick Christmas Craft: Sew a Christmas outfit for dolls with today’s free patterns! #MerryChristmas2026 #HappyHolidays2026

  Scroll down to the third set of bullets for the free PDF sewing patterns. Yes, if this video looks familiar, that’s because it’s a re-mastered version of a video I’ve had available on this website for a long time, but today I’m giving it an upgrade. I’ve added voiceover to the original video, a few photos of new and different dolls, and in the … Continue reading Quick Christmas Craft: Sew a Christmas outfit for dolls with today’s free patterns! #MerryChristmas2026 #HappyHolidays2026

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.

10 Sewing Books You Can Buy Used Without Regrets #Top10 #Books #GiftIdeas

This list of my top “10 sewing books you can buy used without regrets” is based on a.) the books that have helped me hone my sewing skills, b.) the books that bring me inspiration to continue with my sewing projects, and c.) books that help keep my sewing projects organized. And it may surprise you to find that I’ve included more than just my … Continue reading 10 Sewing Books You Can Buy Used Without Regrets #Top10 #Books #GiftIdeas

A pretty, bright-eyed Baby Alive 12 inch baby doll stands in a field of poppies. She wears a sleeveless A-line dress made of light blue fabric that has a repeating pattern of ladybugs and little white flowers on it. The ChellyWood.com logo reminds us that the free patterns for making this dress, plus an easy-to-follow tutorial video for sewing this dress can be found at ChellyWood.com. Text above the doll reads, "summer dress."

Sew an A-Line Dress for Baby Alive with Today’s FREE Patterns @ ChellyWood.com #GiftIdeas #DIYgifts

  Scroll down to the third set of bullets for the free PDF sewing patterns. Today I have a brand new pattern for you. It’s a very easy-to-make A-line dress, and it’s designed to fit baby or toddler dolls that are 12 to 13 inches tall, like Baby Alive and/or the Disney Princess Toddler dolls. I tried to keep the instructions as simple as possible, … Continue reading Sew an A-Line Dress for Baby Alive with Today’s FREE Patterns @ ChellyWood.com #GiftIdeas #DIYgifts

On a gingham background, the silhouette of a human hand holding a cell phone has a white arrow pointing to the upper right corner of the cell phone, where a circle appears with tiny lines inside it. This indicates where the main menu will be located on Chelly Wood dot com, should a person need to access the dropdown menu for any of the following features: The home page, the blog, the helpful information dropdown (giving access to "helpful tips and FAQ's", Chelly's paid courses, contact information for this website, funding and charity work, Romeo & Juliet, Share your Creations! -- Additional items in the main menu include the privacy policy, cart, checkout, my account, shop, and donate.

Help me re-organize things on ChellyWood.com — I need some advice! #Goals

When I was at the IANDS conference in Chicago, one of the ladies there asked me if I could show her what my website looks like. I watched her fiddle around on her phone, confused, trying to get from the Home Page to the American Girls doll clothes pattern page. It was kind of a disaster. So I thought, “Oh man, I’ve got to make … Continue reading Help me re-organize things on ChellyWood.com — I need some advice! #Goals

The image shows a red miniature stocking and a green miniature stocking hung over a doll-sized fireplace. The text says, "free mini stocking pattern."

Make miniature Christmas stockings with today’s free sewing pattern #HolidayCrafts #ChristmasCrafts

Please scroll down to the second set of bullets for the free printable PDF sewing pattern and links to any additional relevant tutorial videos. Today’s tutorial video shows you how to make a Christmas stocking for your 1:6 scale dollhouse or diorama. Yes, I’ve posted this tutorial and this stocking pattern before, but two years ago I remastered the tutorial video to include a voice-over … Continue reading Make miniature Christmas stockings with today’s free sewing pattern #HolidayCrafts #ChristmasCrafts

Handmade doll quilt with tiny pillow. Images show in clockwise order, starting in the upper right corner: vintage charm; twenty-one inches by seventeen inches; applique hearts; vintage fabrics; tiny pillow included; made with love. Each of these subtexts accompanies a close-up image of the cotton fabrics used to make the heart applique quilt for dolls.

Doll quilts for sale! #Christmas2025 #GiftIdeas

If you’ve been making 18 inch doll clothes or baby doll clothes for your child or grandchild for Christmas, today’s blog post is a reminder that I have not one, but two handmade quilts for sale in my Etsy store, which would be great as part of your doll clothes Christmas gift bundle! My mother-in-law, Anita, makes these doll quilts, and as you can see, … Continue reading Doll quilts for sale! #Christmas2025 #GiftIdeas

I’m making a new class, and I’d like your input!

Today’s blog post will be brief for me, but I’d really like everyone who reads this to PLEASE add to the comments section. So this is more about what you have to say than what I do, okay? I’m designing a new course for C&T Publishing, and I need to know these things as I build my class: What doll or dolls do you sew … Continue reading I’m making a new class, and I’d like your input!

Simplicity 1242 doll clothes patterns for Barbie doll is featured beside the logo for Chelly Wood dot com. Incidentally, this pattern is a modern remake of an older pattern numbered Simplicity 6208 in its original form.

Why do the same sewing patterns sometimes have different numbers? #VintageSewing #RetroToys

I recently added Simplicity 1242 to my vintage doll clothes pattern collection. When I looked it up on eBay, I discovered this exact same pattern used to be called Simplicity 6208. What’s up with that? I mean yeah, it’s a super cute pattern, whisking me back to bygone days with its charm, but why did Simplicity mix things up? Why bother changing it from Simplicity … Continue reading Why do the same sewing patterns sometimes have different numbers? #VintageSewing #RetroToys

In this visually engaging thumbnail titled "Five Spooky Halloween Skirts for Barbie," viewers are treated to a captivating display of fashion and creativity. The video is prominently featured on a flat screen TV, showcasing the legs and feet of five Barbie dolls. Each doll struts in style, wearing a unique combination of black boots, orange heels, and black and white striped leggings paired with vibrant, Halloween-themed skirts that capture the festive spirit of the season.

Barbie and friends are headed to a Halloween dance… Watch the stop-motion video! #StopMotion #HalloweenKids

My regular followers have been enjoying my “Spooky Sewing” series, where you learn how to make the outfits featured in today’s stop motion video, using my free doll clothes sewing patterns and tutorial videos. This series will continue next week as well. Today’s video includes both a super fun dance scene in stop-motion and a pitch for the sale of these adorable Halloween outfits for … Continue reading Barbie and friends are headed to a Halloween dance… Watch the stop-motion video! #StopMotion #HalloweenKids

A purple frame enhances the words "who's the doll of the day" as they surround a photo of doll clothes all piled up next to the bare foot of a random doll.

Doll of the Day: Can you help me identify this handsome gentleman? #ActionFigures #Dolls

I found this muscle-bound fellow at a yard sale, and I’m designing some clothes to fit him. But who is he? I have no idea! The only clue I have is the letter “M” on his sleeve. It’s bright orange-ish-yellow and black, on a black and white circular background. Does anyone remember him? Feel free to leave your thoughts and memories regarding this handsome gentleman in … Continue reading Doll of the Day: Can you help me identify this handsome gentleman? #ActionFigures #Dolls