Hi everyone,
On Friday (March 10th 2017 ) we are offering a free doll clothes pattern featuring the work of Genine Allan of Genniewren Designs. Be sure to vote and then come back on Friday to get your free copy.
More About Genine Allan and Genniewren Designs, (in her own words): Hi, I’m Genine, from Genniewren Designs. I’ve been working with Pixie Faire for two and a half years now, and it has been a fantastic way for me to share my love of sewing for dolls with so many people all around the world. I've always had a passion for needlecrafts and actually started sewing before I started school. I even learned to smock as a child, serving my apprenticeship by picking up the dots (by hand) for my mother’s smocking projects. In my 20s and early 30s, I made many one-of-a-kind wearable quilted jackets, bridal gowns, bridesmaid dresses, first communion and confirmation dresses. The special occasion dresses gave me insight into several couture techniques and from there I graduated to corset-making too. Over the years I’ve designed and published knitting patterns, embroidery designs, and soft toy patterns including traditional-style teddy bears, but my favorite kind of sewing is still designing clothes for dolls. Nowadays I have dolls of all sizes from different countries to design for. Thanks to the kindness of friends across the globe, my most recent acquisitions are a WellieWishers™ doll and a Little Darling® doll and I’m looking forward to creating some unique designs for them both. Never forget that dolls are for grown-ups too!
Vote Now:
More About The Patterns:
The Vintage School Dress Designed To Fit 18 Inch Dolls Such As American Girl®: The Vintage School dress is reminiscent of an Edwardian school dress, with a sailor type collar, dropped waist bodice, fancy sleeves and cuffs. Both dresses are unlined and open all the way down the back for easy dressing of your doll. View A has short puffed sleeves with plain cuffs, a gathered skirt, contrast square sailor-style collar and a lace trimmed ribbon sash. View B has long sleeves with trimmed contrast cuffs, a knife pleated skirt, and a triangular shaped contrast collar. The collars, sleeves and skirt style options are interchangeable, and the dress can be made without a collar at all, giving you even more choice. This pattern is a great way to gain confidence in using trims to enhance your doll’s clothing, e.g. piping or attaching lace. There is plenty of room on the bodice or collar to add machine or hand embroidery should you wish. The only limit is your own creativity! The pieces in this PDF sewing pattern are compatible with the Sorrell dress pattern which will give you even more design choices as you can mix and match the flared layered skirts and the sleeve choices with all the options in this pattern.
The A-Line Color Block Dress For 18 Inch Dolls Such As American Girl®: This lined, sleeveless A-line dress pattern includes three color blocked front options, all of them giving a retro feel. The A-line sleeveless shift shape instantly evokes the idea of the late 1960s when color and design were bold fashion choices for young women. All of the designs are inspired by modern art. There's also a fourth option… you can also use the front lining piece to make a plain front to embroider or trim as desired. This pattern is a great way to gain confidence in sewing curved seams and lining garments. Instructions are given for buttons/buttonholes, snaps or Velcro (R) back closure. To add even more value, the pattern includes a tutorial for drafting your own color blocked design using the lining pattern pieces provided. This PDF pattern contains full instructions on how to make each of the pictured dresses, full sized computer drawn pattern pieces, plus a comprehensive tutorial explaining how to create your own original color block design. The tutorial shows you how to break up a pattern piece into smaller parts with curved and straight edges and how to add seam allowances and notches. You can use this tutorial to draft cheerleader outfits, Euro-style designs, appliques or picture style dresses. The only limit is your own creativity! My hope is that you will take this pattern, choose the options you like best, and come up with an original creation that's unique in every way.
The Lucy Dress For 18 Inch Dolls Such As American Girl®: The Lucy Dress is a traditional style dress with a modern touch. It features a fitted, lined bodice with puffed sleeves; a four gored flared full skirt with optional back waist ties and an optional collar. This pattern is ideal for party dresses, Christmas dresses and other special occasion wear. The dress can be made in three styles – View A with a smocked insert (the example smocking plate is provided but you could use your own instead), View B with an unsmocked contrast insert, or View C with a plain front. If you choose to make the plain front style then there is space for machine or hand embroidery embellishments on the bodice if desired. The four gored flared skirt means there is less bulk around the waistline than there would be with a gathered skirt, especially if you make the smocked option, or if you insert trims such as rick rack into the contrast insert. The skirt can be finished with a narrow hem or with a bias bound edge. There are two styles of collar – a straight edged collar and a Peter Pan collar, or you can leave out the collar and use lace on the neckline instead. The choice is yours. The dress closes in the back with a choice of Velcro®, three buttons or three snaps. The smocking plate shown on the cover dress is included in the pattern, but you could use any smocking design you choose. My hope is that you will take this pattern, choose the options you like best, and come up with an original creation that's unique in every way. This PDF sewing pattern has been designed to fit 18" soft bodied dolls such as American Girl®.
The Jessica Round Yoke Dress Designed To Fit 18 Inch Dolls Such As American Girl®: The Jessica dress is a round yoke dress with elbow length puffed sleeves and a hem band. The dress fastens at the center back yoke and the PDF pattern includes instructions for buttons, snaps or Velcro® fastenings. View A has a plain or piped yoke. Instructions are included for using piping. View B has a ruffled yoke. Instructions are given for making the ruffle from fabric, but you could use eyelet or lace trim if preferred. While traditional in style, the Jessica dress is very versatile and a modern look can be achieved by using contrast fabric for the yoke, cuffs and hem band.. An optional tie belt changes the look of the dress completely. The tie belt could also be used as a hair band for a more modern look. When made in lightweight fabrics like lawn or batiste, this dress can become a perfect heirloom style summer dress, particularly if you add a lace edged ruffle instead of the hem band. Use lace for the yoke ruffle and add some pretty embroidery to the yoke and cuffs to complete the Edwardian summer look.
Take A Look:
We'd love to hear from you! Leave a comment below and thank Genine!
If you make a cute outfit using this pattern be sure to share a picture using the #pixiefaire and #hoppity hashtags on Instagram!
This was a hard one. Decided on the Vintage school dress so awesome. I love all the GennieWren designs. Genine you are awesome.
I don’t see a poll but I would vote for the vintage school dress. I also enjoyed reading Genine’s story and would love to see a post of her dolls on the Doll Plaza.
The Vintage School Dress gets my vote. It will perfect for my daughter’s Samantha doll. Thank you so much for your generosit!
I voted for the Vintage School Dress. Very nice designs. Thank you for your generosity.
J’hésite entre la robe d’école et la robe “colorblock”. Elles sont toutes à croquer! Merci à vous pour le partage!
Maurine
March 08, 2017
Love the Vintage School Dress. It could be designed in so may different ways. Hope it wins. Thank you to Pixie Faire for all the free patterns. Love this website and all the creative designers that contribute to it. .