"Do a Pick." Image shows Fair Hair Barbie wearing a midi length skirt with suspender like straps and a ruffle over a soft white blouse with puff sleeves. "What will Barbie wear to the Farmer's Market?" Click the thumbnail to experience the video and its choices from the Best Buy fashions in the Beautiful World of Barbie brochure.

Let’s Do a Pick — What will Barbie wear to the farmers’ market? #DoApick #vintageToys

Today’s “Do a Pick” game features the following: Best Buy 3343/8620 (the midi skirt with straps) Best Buy 3206 (the long skirt with bonnet) Best Buy 3208 (the business suit) You’ll notice the thumbnail for today’s video and the first bullet above seems to imply that there’s not a hard-and-fast rule about which Best Buy number matches the midi length skirt that has a ruffle … Continue reading Let’s Do a Pick — What will Barbie wear to the farmers’ market? #DoApick #vintageToys

Do a Pick. What will Barbie wear to pick up a new Siamese kitten? Barbie is shown in “Sweater Girl” from a 1961 Barbie and Ken brochure (catalog). This is a thumbnail for a Barbie DoApick game at ChellyWood.com

Let’s Do a Pick — Taking Barbie to pick up a new Siamese kitty! #DoApick #vintageToys

Today’s “Do a Pick” game features the following: Sweater Girl #976 Registered Nurse #991 Open Road #985 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 … Continue reading Let’s Do a Pick — Taking Barbie to pick up a new Siamese kitty! #DoApick #vintageToys

Three headless doll bodies (shown discreetly from the shoulders up) accompany four doll heads, with their hair all wild and woven together against a teal and turquoise polka dot backdrop.

Connecting doll heads to doll bodies… Are there rules? #DollCollector #DollCollection

I don’t know about you, but when I come across a doll head without a body, or a doll body without a head, I feel an uncontrollable urge to connect some doll heads to those doll bodies! No doll body should have to go around headless, and no doll head should have to go around bodiless! How do you feel about putting vintage doll heads on … Continue reading Connecting doll heads to doll bodies… Are there rules? #DollCollector #DollCollection

Do a Pick. What will Barbie wear to the county fair? Barbie is shown in picnic set number 967 from a 1961 Barbie and Ken brochure (catalog). This is a thumbnail for a Barbie DoApick game at ChellyWood.com. When you click on this thumbnail, it takes you to a YouTube short in which you're told three different Barbie outfits to choose from, for Barbie to wear to the county fair. They are all vintage outfits from 1961, and the description area below the video gives links to the original doll clothes for sale on eBay.

Let’s Do a Pick — What will Barbie wear to the county fair? #DoApick #vintageToys

Today’s “Do a Pick” game features the following: Orange Blossom #987 Picnic Set #967 Friday Night Date #979 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 — What will Barbie wear to the county fair? #DoApick #vintageToys

How would you spend a dollar at the five and dime? Today's "do a pick" game thumbnail image shows a little pink scoop neck playsuit for vintage Barbie with a white belt. This was part of the Barbie Fashion Pak sets from a 1961 Barbie catalog brochure. Click on the thumbnail to join the game!

Let’s Do a Pick — Buy a Barbie Fashion Pak at the local five and dime store in 1963! #DoApick #vintageToys

Today’s “Do a Pick” game features the following: The skirt with pumps The shorts with summer top The scoop neck playsuit I’m really sorry for the sound quality. My computer is back at the fixit shop, so I was recording on my laptop, which doesn’t work great… What’s the story behind this game? When I was a kid, whenever it was playtime with dolls, we … Continue reading Let’s Do a Pick — Buy a Barbie Fashion Pak at the local five and dime store in 1963! #DoApick #vintageToys

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

What’s the best underpants pattern for dolls? #PatternReview #SewWithMe

Today I’ll be exploring how elastic changes the fit of a pair of fashion doll underpants, when sewing the View 4 bikini bottoms from Simplicity 9054. As you can see in the image above, the View 4 patterns offer a bikini swimsuit option, which of course, can become a bra and underpants, if you’re creative with your fabric choices and the execution of that fabric … Continue reading What’s the best underpants pattern for dolls? #PatternReview #SewWithMe

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