Simplicity 9054, showing the envelope front, which displays swimwear, hippie clothes, and 1960s and early 1970s fashions for both Ken and Barbie

Guide to Sewing Simplicity 9054 Doll Clothes for Vintage Barbie and Ken Collectors #MeMadeMonday #BarbieGirl

Sometimes people who visit my website for the first time think I’m offering these copyrighted patterns for free. That’s not the case, of course. My website does offer free sewing patterns for vintage Ken, vintage Barbie, and similar-sized dolls, and if you need help finding those patterns, this link should help. However today’s blog post is all about the lessons I’ve personally learned when sewing … Continue reading Guide to Sewing Simplicity 9054 Doll Clothes for Vintage Barbie and Ken Collectors #MeMadeMonday #BarbieGirl

The DoApick thumbnail (do a pick thumbnail) is purple with a rainbow and cloud graphic behind a cell phone, featuring a photo from a vintage Mattel doll clothes catalog. Today’s photo features a vintage Barbie doll modeling American Airlines Stewardess doll clothes ensemble number 984. Click on this thumbnail, and the link will take you to the “Do a Pick” game, which you can play by viewing (and listening to) the story scenario dealing with realistic activities children enjoyed with dolls, back in the 1970’s. Leave a comment to play along.

Let’s Do a Pick — Play a game with Barbie’s Friend Ship Airplane from 1972! #DoApick #vintageToys

  It’s Christmas, 2025! So today’s #DoApick short is about the fun Christmas presents that were available to play with when I was a kid, growing up in the 1970’s. So fun! I hope everyone is enjoying their holiday. 🙂 Today’s “Do a Pick” game features the following: American Airlines Captain #0779 American Airlines Stewardess #984 Army and Air Force #797 And here’s a link … Continue reading Let’s Do a Pick — Play a game with Barbie’s Friend Ship Airplane from 1972! #DoApick #vintageToys

The DoApick thumbnail (do a pick thumbnail) is purple with a rainbow and cloud graphic behind a cell phone, featuring a photo from a vintage Mattel doll clothes catalog. Today’s photo features a vintage Barbie doll modeling a yellow pajama called “Sweet Dreams” from 1961. Click on this thumbnail, and the link will take you to the “Do a Pick” game, which you can play by viewing (and listening to) the story scenario dealing with realistic activities children enjoyed with dolls, back in the early 1960’s. Leave a comment to play along.

Let’s Do a Pick — Barbie Pajamas for Christmas #DoApick #vintageToys

Today’s “Do a Pick” game features the following: “Sweet Dreams” #973 “Nighty-Negligee” #965 Two Piece Pajamas Fashion Pak 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 … Continue reading Let’s Do a Pick — Barbie Pajamas for Christmas #DoApick #vintageToys

An image shows a cell phone displaying a vintage Mattel Francie doll. The doll is dressed in a brown winter coat with a matching hat and belt. Behind the cell phone, a rainbow with yellow, turquoise blue, and green colors creates cloud-like curves against a purple background. The screen displays the text "Do a Pick," indicating the name of the game, with a subtitle that reads "New coat for back to school," suggesting the game's theme focuses on buying a new coat for the fall school season.

Let’s Do a Pick — Back to School Coats for Francie or Skipper! #BarbieGames #BarbieFun

Today’s “Do a Pick” game features the following: Francie’s brown coat with collar and matching hat, Best Buy #8646 Francie’s long red and white coat with matching purse, Best Buy #3368 Skipper’s red velvet coat with furry collar, Best Buy #8613 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 … Continue reading Let’s Do a Pick — Back to School Coats for Francie or Skipper! #BarbieGames #BarbieFun

The Chelly Wood doll (a Spin Master Liv doll that has been repainted and re-wigged) stands beside the Advance 2899 vintage doll clothes patterns for a 1960's Ken doll. This pattern was published in 1962.

What is a facing in sewing? #SewingProjects #BarbieAndKen

It might surprise you to learn that of all the handmade Ken clothing items shown in the image above, the last thing I finished sewing was Ken’s shirt. Why? There was a mishap with the facing! So today’s blog post is about facings, and in particular, how sewing a facing on doll clothes is a little different from sewing facings on people’s clothes. *Please note: … Continue reading What is a facing in sewing? #SewingProjects #BarbieAndKen

Today's do-a-pick game shows Francie wearing a red head scarf, blue tank top, and bell-bottom jeans. It's "Picnic fashions for Francie" for today's theme for the DoApick game!

Let’s Do a Pick — Taking Francie on a picnic– What to wear? #DoApick #vintageDolls

Today’s “Do a Pick” game features the following: Blue gingham sundress, Best Buy #8644 Jeans and blue tank top, Best Buy #3365 Brown skirt with brown gingham shirt, Best Buy #8647 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.” … Continue reading Let’s Do a Pick — Taking Francie on a picnic– What to wear? #DoApick #vintageDolls

The Chelly Wood doll (AKA Spin Master Liv doll) stands next to the vintage Barbie sewing pattern Advance 2896. This thumbnail image is surrounded by a purple and turquoise blue quilted frame.

Progress with Judy Littlechap’s Wardrobe — Which dress should I design with Advance 2896’s bodice? #Sewingchat #VintageSewing

My official date of retirement from my day job as a school librarian is almost one month away, and I’m buzzing with excitement! I would put a lot more time into these blog posts (and other doll related projects), if I wasn’t exhausted after work every single day. So I think you’ll understand when I say, even though I purchased my Judy Littlechap doll in … Continue reading Progress with Judy Littlechap’s Wardrobe — Which dress should I design with Advance 2896’s bodice? #Sewingchat #VintageSewing

With close-up images from pattern envelopes belonging to Advance 9938 and Advance 2895, we can really see that the tulip dress looks a lot like the view one dress from Advance 9938 after adding the skirt from Advance 2895.

Can I mix the bodice and skirt patterns from two different pattern envelopes? YES! Here’s how… #Sewing #Barbie

Have a look at the View 1 dress on pattern envelope Advance 9938. I really wanted to make that cute little Barbie dress, but unfortunately, it didn’t come with this used pattern that I bought on eBay. However, as we saw at Christmas time, this Advance 9938 did have the view 3 bodice, which is similar. Furthermore, I had the lovely gathered skirt from view … Continue reading Can I mix the bodice and skirt patterns from two different pattern envelopes? YES! Here’s how… #Sewing #Barbie

Surrounded by a quilted frame, we see the ChellyWood.com logo and images of dolls modeling doll clothes from the 1970's. This image comes from Simplicity doll clothes pattern 7737, dated with a copyright of 1976.

What are the easiest Barbie doll summer clothes patterns for sewing? #Summer #Sewing

As we come to the end of March, it’s time to start sewing our summer projects. So today’s blog post answers the question, “What are the easiest Barbie doll summer clothes patterns for sewing?” Today’s post will be about the vintage patterns that I own, but if you’re looking for more modern summer clothes patterns for your Barbie dolls, I plan to do a couple … Continue reading What are the easiest Barbie doll summer clothes patterns for sewing? #Summer #Sewing

The Chelly Wood doll stands next to the Advance 9938 Barbie doll clothes sewing pattern with her cartoonish sewing room behind her.

Learning to Sew with Advance 9938 Doll Clothes Sewing Patterns from 1961 #SewVintage #Barbie

Don’t you just love the artwork on these old Barbie patterns? I could stare at this envelope all day, dreaming of the wonderful outfits I could make with it! I’ve written a few articles about the outfits offered in Advance 9938, and if you click on the links I’ve provided below, you can read all about the lessons I’ve learned by sewing these patterns. I … Continue reading Learning to Sew with Advance 9938 Doll Clothes Sewing Patterns from 1961 #SewVintage #Barbie

The thumbnail uses a purple background with tiny white polka dots. The text reads "free sewing pattern" using arched words. In the foreground, a vintage Superstar Barbie models a handmade pink cotton solid-colored summer top. It's sleeveless with a scoop neck. It has darts in the front.

Whip up a fab summer top for Barbie with a free pattern that’ll have her strutting in style! #SewOver50 #SewWithMe

  For your free patterns and additional tutorial videos, please scroll down to the second set of bullets. Recently I made the culottes from my vintage Advance 9939 doll clothes sewing patterns for Barbie. On my Advance 9939 envelope, it shows the culottes paired with a pretty sleeveless summer top, but unfortunately my pattern envelope was missing this shirt pattern. So of course, I designed … Continue reading Whip up a fab summer top for Barbie with a free pattern that’ll have her strutting in style! #SewOver50 #SewWithMe

Advance 9939 vintage Barbie doll clothes patterns (the envelope that the patterns come in) is shown with the Chelly Wood doll, framed in a quilted border. The text reads "Advance 9939 vintage Barbie patterns."

Sewing the View 2 Culottes for vintage Barbie from Advance 9939 doll clothes sewing patterns… #SewWithMe #VintageBarbie

In today’s blog post, I’ll explain the challenges I faced when sewing the View 2 culottes from vintage Advance 9939 Barbie wardrobe sewing pattern. You’ll find that I’ve been through two rounds with this pattern: one pair of culottes is solid blue; the other is made from soft pink gingham. *Please note: when you click on links to various merchants on this site and make … Continue reading Sewing the View 2 Culottes for vintage Barbie from Advance 9939 doll clothes sewing patterns… #SewWithMe #VintageBarbie

A woman's fingers place tiny shoes on a cylindrical platform or plinth. The shoes include a pair of rose colored pumps, a pair of hot pink Mary Janes, and a pair of purple oxford shoes. This image accompanies an article on Chelly Wood dot com, which discusses the tiny shoes for dolls both in present day and in history.

Doll shoes for small dolls… Do you make ’em or buy ’em? Any favorites? #DollCollector #VintageBarbie

As a gift for her young neighbor, my mother-in-law recently knitted the cute little doll shoes/slippers that you see in the image at the top of today’s blog post, and it got me all nostalgic about doll shoes. Do you remember getting “Little Extras” doll shoes or “Foot Notes” shoes or “Shoes N Boots” packages, back when you were a kid? I mean, the  minute … Continue reading Doll shoes for small dolls… Do you make ’em or buy ’em? Any favorites? #DollCollector #VintageBarbie

The thumbnail shows the words "Do a Pick" atop a cell phone that shows a close-up of blond Francie modeling Best Buy Fashion #8645. The text beside and slightly to the left reads "Playing Betty and Veronica from Archie comics." The #DoApick shorts offer a series of three items from a bygone Barbie or other doll's era, from which you and a friend might pick out toys and dolls and the dolls' outfits.

Let’s Do a Pick — Barbie is Betty and Steffie is Veronica from Archie Comics! #DoApick #Archie

Today’s “Do a Pick” game features the following: Best Buy Fashion #8645 Best Buy Fashion #3347 Busy Steffie #3312 Malibu Barbie Blond Francie Vintage Archie Comic Books This “Do a Pick” game asks you to pick between dolls and outfits to play the characters of Betty and Veronica from the Archie comic books of the 1970’s. What’s the story behind this game? When I was … Continue reading Let’s Do a Pick — Barbie is Betty and Steffie is Veronica from Archie Comics! #DoApick #Archie

Advance 9939 vintage Barbie doll clothes patterns (the envelope that the patterns come in) is shown with the Chelly Wood doll, framed in a quilted border. The text reads "Advance 9939 vintage Barbie patterns."

A different way to make a pair of doll’s underpants… but is it easy? #SewingTips #VintageBarbie

Advance 9939 has a pair of bloomers that go with the View 4 ice skating outfit, but it also has a random pattern for a pair of so-called “panties” for Barbie as well. Now my regular followers know that my website, ChellyWood.com, offers free, printable PDF sewing patterns for making underpants for various dolls, from little Barbie dolls all the way up to the big … Continue reading A different way to make a pair of doll’s underpants… but is it easy? #SewingTips #VintageBarbie