The Chelly Wood doll (a Spin Master Liv doll with her face repainted and her hair dyed grey to look more like the real Chelly Wood) stands beside the original pattern for Simplicity 5861, a set of Skipper doll clothes including a blue coat. Beside this photo, we see a picture of the doll coat that Chelly made for Skipper, and it's blue, exactly like the one in the artwork on the front of the pattern, but Chelly's has a pinwheel printed lining. The text reads, "doll coat"

Does a doll’s coat need a lining, and if so, how do I choose the lining fabric?

Simplicity 5861 is an amazing ensemble of sewing patterns for Skipper, including two coats: a bolero and a winter coat. When I found this pattern on eBay last summer, I’d been searching for a high-quality version of it for years, so I snatched this up as soon as I saw that it was an uncut pattern — and let me tell you, this adorable pattern … Continue reading Does a doll’s coat need a lining, and if so, how do I choose the lining fabric?

A vintage Skipper doll models a red bolero jacket over a black and white gingham dress. She stands beside Simplicity vintage Skipper pattern number 5861 for sewing doll clothes. There's a quilted blue and purple frame surrounding the whole image.

Is there an easy way to sew sleeves? Yes! And it begins with your choice of patterns…

Over the summer, I purchased Simplicity 5861, a vintage pattern for the earliest version of Skipper dolls. This pattern offers pattern pieces for a coat and three different shirt styles, plus a bolero. These garments’ sleeves were remarkably easy to make! You might wonder why that is. Well take a look at the skipper T-shirt that I designed, displayed on a more modern skipper below: … Continue reading Is there an easy way to sew sleeves? Yes! And it begins with your choice of patterns…

The image shows a turquoise blue cotton fabric with the words "inspirational jazz for sewing doll clothes" across the top, followed by three circular photos showing a vintage Skipper doll modeling handmade doll clothes. Below these three circular photos is a larger rectangle, highlighting each outfit Skipper wears in the music video: pants with a 3/4 length sleeve shirt; a 50's style dress with bolero, and a pair of plaid shorts with a matching top. Musical notes dance across the lower right corner of the thumbnail.

New music video to inspire your crafts… With Skipper Simplicity patterns 5861!

  Sometimes I make doll clothes using other people’s patterns. I take lots of pictures, but what can I do with those pictures, since it’s not my pattern to offer up for free on this website? Today I decided to make another “Sewing Inspiration” video, using Simplicity’s 5861 doll clothes patterns for vintage Skipper, which I’m really enjoying making! As a fan of jazz, I … Continue reading New music video to inspire your crafts… With Skipper Simplicity patterns 5861!

On top of a turquoise blue square background, we see a Momoko doll modeling a pair of lightweight denim jeans and a striped short-sleeved T-shirt. The words "free pattern" are at an angle over the top of this image. The Chelly Wood dot com logo appears in the lower left corner.

Make a T-shirt and jeans for Momoko dolls with today’s free pattern @ ChellyWood.com #MomokoDoll #DollClothes

For your free patterns and tutorial videos, please scroll down to the second set of bullets. In the past, I’ve posted patterns for this outfit under the Skipper gallery and the gallery for Creatable World dolls from Mattel. Skipper, the Creatable World dolls, and Momoko are very compatible, when it comes to clothing-swapping. Please look back at Tuesday’s blog post, which gave you measurements for … Continue reading Make a T-shirt and jeans for Momoko dolls with today’s free pattern @ ChellyWood.com #MomokoDoll #DollClothes

This image shows a Mattel Skipper doll from the 1970s wearing the "daisy crazy" pink and yellow mini-skirt dress with matching daisy print stockings. She's on a cell phone, in the middle of a purple "Do a Pick" background with rainbow colors. The text says, "do a pick Brady bunch: What will Jan (Skipper) wear?" Click on this image to view the video and hear your options for dresses Skipper will wear when she plays Jan on the Brady bunch show.

Let’s Do a Pick — Skipper Plays Jan on the Brady Bunch! #DoApick #vintageDolls

Today’s “Do a Pick” game features the following: Lots of Lace Budding Beauty Daisy Crazy What’s the story behind this game? When I was a kid, whenever it was playtime with dolls, we would lay out all our dolls and their clothing items. Then we would “do a pick.” That’s where you take turns picking which doll or dolls you’ll play with and which outfits … Continue reading Let’s Do a Pick — Skipper Plays Jan on the Brady Bunch! #DoApick #vintageDolls

On a purple square polka dot fabric background, we read "free pattern" above the ChellyWood.com logo, and beside these texts is a photo of a vintage Skipper doll from the 1980's modeling a long sundress with straps and a ruffle. click to read more and visit ChellyWood.com to access the free printable sewing patterns for making this and other Skipper doll clothes.

Sew a strappy sundress for vintage 1980’s Skipper dolls w/free pattern @ ChellyWood.com #DollCollector #DollClothesPatterns

For your free patterns and tutorial videos, please scroll down to the second set of bullets. Today I’m sharing my free, printable PDF sewing pattern for making this sweet little strappy sundress with a “cottage core” feel to it. I first designed this pattern to fit the Rainbow High dolls, but I’ve since discovered that it will fit a number of other dolls too. So … Continue reading Sew a strappy sundress for vintage 1980’s Skipper dolls w/free pattern @ ChellyWood.com #DollCollector #DollClothesPatterns

In this thumbnail image of the 1980's Skipper doll clothes pattern gallery, we see a platinum blonde Skipper from the 1980s wearing four different outfits: a green skirt with white top and a green plaid scarf. Then there's a short yellow sun dress. Then we have a brown check sundress that's rather long with a ruffle. Next we see vintage Skipper from the 1980's wearing jeans and a striped T-shirt.

FREE 10 inch (25.4 cm) Vintage 1980’s Skipper Doll Clothes Patterns (Gallery)

Please click on the doll clothes you would like to make. Not what you’re looking for? Behind the scenes, I’m creating a series of classes in doll clothing design techniques, so you can design your own doll clothes patterns for your dolls, using simple techniques, household tools, and your amazing imagination! Click on this link to learn more about my paid courses on the Creative Spark Online Learning platform. If you would … Continue reading FREE 10 inch (25.4 cm) Vintage 1980’s Skipper Doll Clothes Patterns (Gallery)

In a turquoise blue square thumbnail, a photo of a vintage 1980's skipper shows the doll wearing handmade doll clothes, including a tee shirt and a pair of jeans or elastic waist pants. Beside the photo of the doll, we read "free pattern" just above the Chelly Wood dot com logo. For your free printable doll clothes sewing patterns for making this and other Skipper outfits, go to ChellyWood.com

Make a T-shirt and jeans for vintage 1980’s Skipper with today’s free patterns @ ChellyWood.com #VintageDolls #DollClothes

For your free patterns and tutorial videos, please scroll down to the second set of bullets. I first posted these patterns for the Creatable World dolls from Mattel. But they also fit modern Skipper, and as you’ll see in the image below, modern Skipper’s body isn’t that different from a 1980’s skipper’s body. I still see these older Skipper dolls in second hand stores and … Continue reading Make a T-shirt and jeans for vintage 1980’s Skipper with today’s free patterns @ ChellyWood.com #VintageDolls #DollClothes

On a purple cotton fabric square background, the words "free pattern" are written above the ChellyWood.com logo. Beside these texts is a photo of a platinum blonde vintage Skipper doll from the 1980s modeling a short-skirted yellow sundress with straps. (Sometimes spelled sun dress.) To locate and print this doll dress for your vintage skipper dolls, go to Chelly Wood dot com. Other dresses and doll clothes patterns are available for free on this free doll clothes sewing pattern website as well.

Sew a pretty sun dress for vintage 1980’s Skipper dolls w/free sewing patterns @ ChellyWood.com #Easter #DollClothes

For your free patterns and additional tutorial videos, please scroll down to the second set of bullets. Yesterday I posted about my new-used “lucky find” at the Goodwill: a Judy Littlechap doll. Well another recent Goodwill discovery was this vintage Skipper from the 1980’s. However, she didn’t arrive in nearly as good of condition as Judy did. In fact, even after cleaning her up and … Continue reading Sew a pretty sun dress for vintage 1980’s Skipper dolls w/free sewing patterns @ ChellyWood.com #Easter #DollClothes

On a purple polka dot background, we see a photo of a modern Skipper doll wearing a handmade sundress. Over the top of the photo are the words "free pattern" and in one corner of the frame is the ChellyWood.com logo.

Teach your child to sew Skipper doll clothes this summer with today’s FREE #MommyAndMe #DollClothesPattern @ ChellyWood.com

For your free patterns and tutorial videos, please scroll down to the second set of bullets. Today’s free sundress pattern may look familiar to you. A while back I converted the pattern to a PDF for the Skipper Gallery of patterns. Today I’m updating the old tutorial video as well, since I made the original tutorial video while on vacation at Yellowstone Park. Because I … Continue reading Teach your child to sew Skipper doll clothes this summer with today’s FREE #MommyAndMe #DollClothesPattern @ ChellyWood.com

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.

Not all Skipper patterns are alike! #BuyerBeware #DollClothesPatterns

As the heading for today’s blog post states, “Not all Skipper patterns are alike!” You see, Skipper has undergone quite a few changes over time. The earliest rendition of Skipper was a nine-inch doll with no bust and a fairly inflexible body. Here’s my vintage Skipper, modeling a poodle skirt:   In the 1980’s, she became taller but still didn’t have much of a bust.  During … Continue reading Not all Skipper patterns are alike! #BuyerBeware #DollClothesPatterns

A turquoise linen frame appears around and behind the words "free patterns" along with the photo of a Skipper doll in a striped short-sleeved T-shirt and a pair of lightweight denim jeans. The logo for ChellyWood.com also appears in one corner of this frame.

Make a T-shirt and jeans for Skipper with today’s free pattern @ ChellyWood.com #CreatableWorld #DollClothes

For your free patterns and tutorial videos, please scroll down to the second set of bullets. A couple of weeks ago, I posted this pattern for the Creatable World dolls from Mattel. Skipper and the Creatable World dolls are very compatible, when it comes to clothing-swapping. And let’s face it, Skipper gets purchased and given to children for birthdays and Christmas, but she usually has … Continue reading Make a T-shirt and jeans for Skipper with today’s free pattern @ ChellyWood.com #CreatableWorld #DollClothes