On Friday (December 16, 2016) we'll have a free doll clothes pattern available from Melinda Schlimmer-Reed the designer behind the Melody Valerie Couture brand.
More About Melinda and Melody Valerie Couture: Melinda is an accomplished craftswoman and pattern designer. She spent her childhood making anything and everything, but began to specialize in sewing and pattern-making in high school. During her university studies, she cultivated her gifts for design, presentation, and garment construction. In 2008, she founded Melody Valerie Couture, which provides limited edition, couture-quality dresses to 18″ dolls.
Help us decide which one of these fun patterns should be free by voting below. Then come back to Pixie Faire on Friday to see which pattern won and get the free download.
Vote Now:
Here is more information about each pattern:
The Check Dress For 18 Inch Dolls Such As American Girl:She was all set to leave for the day - but I made her run through the list one last time anyway. Wallet - check. Phone - check. Library books - check. Good attitude - check. Fabulously smashing frock -check? - check! Yes, that was the works. Beaming a smile, she turned and skipped out the door, into the noise of the city. Treat your 18” doll to this girly, yet elegant, frock - perfect for running errands around town or studying at the library. The unique design lines and extreme dropped waist combine beautifully with the short skirt, and tiny pleats in the sleeve cap add a vintage touch. The “Check” PDF Pattern works best when made from lightweight cotton shirting, chambray, or lawn; the Fall 2012 collection original was made from silk dupioni. For lining, any lightweight cotton or poly lining will work nicely - or turn up the glamour and use silk!
The New Girl Dress For 18 Inch Dolls Such As American Girl®: The Melody Valerie Couture new girl dress PDF pattern is our take on the quandary of the new girl. It’s demure, a little old-fashioned – but it offers fabulous design possibilities, like the flame appliques on the skirt, the three small mismatched buttons marching down the front, and the little bits of topstitching that waltz across the dress. This lined dress has darted raglan sleeves, dramatic appliques on the skirt, just the right amount of contrast on the fully lined bodice. It closes up the back with invisible zipper nad features bias facings on the sleeves. It is designed to be made from rayon, wool flannel, lightweight suiting material, or lightweight sateen fabrics. Standard poly or rayon blend lining; sheer or lightweight accents.
The Betsy Dress Designed To Fit 18 Inch Dolls Such As American Girl®:Her name on paper was simple enough: Betsy. Not very pretentious. Not very unusual. Downright ordinary, in fact. But when she arrived, her striking gown’s elegant silhouette and shimmering jewels glistening in the late evening sunlight, it was clear we had been wrong about Betsy. She was a force to be reckoned with. “Betsy” is a luxurious soft gown in both maxi and day lengths. It features a pull-on design, a ruched bodice, optional bodice lining and petticoat, and shoulder straps that cross in the back before becoming part of the pleated skirt. We suggest using a soft knit with some body and rebound, like a jersey knit.
The SeaShells Dress Designed To fit 18 Inch Dolls Such As American Girl®: She stood at the end of the jetty, wind whipping through her curls and fondling her velvet hair ribbon in its ephemeral grasp. Her dress - made from softest knit - stood out brilliantly against the azure sky. She stooped, straightened; seashells in her grasp. This dress is a study in comfort. Designed for soft knits, it features raglan sleeves, a wide neckline, dropped waist, and a clever appliquéd hem detail -- its curvy lines are reminiscent of the seashells at the shore. And, to top it all off, there is a girlishly lovely bow down the front. “Seashells” is a Melody Valerie Couture original design. Any of a variety of soft, very light knits would work well for this dress. Try a very drapeable bamboo, modal, or rayon knit, or go on a field trip to find human-sized clothes made from appropriately light and soft fabric.
Take a Look At Each Pattern:
We'd love to hear your opinion - which one of these fun patterns should be free? Leave a comment below with your opinion! And be sure to thank Melinda - and if you use the pattern to make an outfit be sure to use the hashtag #pixiefaire
37 Comments
Mary Anne
December 14, 2016
The Betsy Dress!! I’ve learned how to sew couture using Melinda’s patterns! They are so well made, they’ve made me a much better sewer. Thanks, Melinda, and thanks Cinnamon for Freebie Fridays! I love supporting you guys!
Marian
December 14, 2016
Absolutely adore the Betsy dress. I have a couple of the others and love them. Thank you for your generous spirit.
LauraC
December 14, 2016
Thank you for such beautiful choices. I have several of your patterns but none of these… I have to vote for Betsy…. I just defined “steampunk” for my husband this week…. He always says he has ‘wide gaps’ in his knowledge…. :)
Joanne
December 14, 2016
I love the Betsy dress 1st, Check dress 2nd. All are beautiful. thank you!
Sherry
December 14, 2016
They are each so beautiful that I already have them all. I see that Melinda has married!!!!! Congratulations to her and her lucky husband! Maybe when things settle down, she can resize more of these patterns for A Girl for All Time. I’ve been fairly successful, myself, but she is the expert! Thank you so much for this opportunity, even though I cannot vote. What a gift!
Laurie E.
December 14, 2016
Oh, I like them all! I guess I’ll have to ponder this a bit longer.
Thank you
Dori
December 14, 2016
Love the Betsy dress—and I notice there’s a short version too.
Thank you Melody for making this offering.
Dori
December 14, 2016
Love the Betsy dress—and I notice there’s a short version too.
Thank you Melinda for making this offering.
LorraineM
December 14, 2016
Betsy dress for me! I love the glamour look! Thank you for Freebie Fridays!
Sylvia
December 14, 2016
Seashells gets my vote…I love to dress “my girls” as little girls too. Thank you for your generosity your patterns are beautiful.
Gloria
December 14, 2016
The Best dress is beautiful. It gets my vote.
Denise
December 14, 2016
Also voted for Seashells. Part of my love for 18" dolls is that they are little girl dolls. I like dresses that are for little girls.
Karen L
December 14, 2016
Melinda is the best! The Betsy dress is going to get my vote.
Mary Margaret Petty
December 14, 2016
Hi! My choice is the Besty Dress. Thank you, Melinda for sHaring your design & talents with us & also to Cinnamon & her team for having the Freebie Fridays….a great way to welcome in our Fridays! :-)
Linda N
December 14, 2016
Voted for glamour this time! I have the others so the Betsey dress got my vote. Thank you for making Friday my favorite day of the week!!!!!!
Mary Margaret Petty
December 14, 2016
Hi! My choice is the Best Dress. Thank you, Melinda for sHaring your design & talents with us & also to Cinnamon & her team for having the Freebie Fridays….a great way to welcome in our Fridays! :-)
Sherril McGann
December 14, 2016
The Betsy! Very elegant dress.
Linda
December 14, 2016
Love Seashells!
Patricia McNeill
December 14, 2016
You had me at the Betsy Dress. Thank you !
margaret
December 14, 2016
Thank you so much for this Melinda – they are all beautiful patterns – but the Betsy Dress is my favourite – pure GLAMOUR
Astrosnik
December 14, 2016
What a lovely array of choices! I’m not into the grown-up look for my dolls but I’m gung-ho about any of the others. I may have to buy a couple of these!
Toni
December 14, 2016
Melinda, you put the “cute” in CoUTurE for our dolls! Love that the Betsy uses no fasteners because of the crossover detail, saving handwork for embellishment. I don’t have any other patterns that feature that curvy u-shaped Basque waist with or without the ruching. Very very creative and flattering to our little ladies! Thank you, thank you!
Shirley
December 14, 2016
Little girls love to dress up. I voted for the Betsy dress.
Love this designer!
DianeKae
December 14, 2016
Check, please! I’m in love with the MV patterns. Beautiful lines, thoughtful details, elegant fabric suggestions, perfect for any sewer who takes their time with each project and appreciates couture design. Thank you!
Anna Mae
December 14, 2016
Betsy dress, thank u!!!
Bonnee
December 14, 2016
Appreciate free patterns, very generous of all artists. My thoughts are, American girl is a young girl, I like outfits geared more to the age the doll represents. My choice would be Seashells. Reminds me of the 4th of July by the Shore. Thanks again for opportunity for the pattern.
Amruta
December 14, 2016
Thank you!
Ann
December 14, 2016
Another tough decision — thank you for offering such lovely patterns!
Connie
December 14, 2016
Thank you Melinda and Pixie Faire for absolutely beautiful choices. I voted for the elegant Betsy Dress.
Gloria
December 14, 2016
Trying to decide between the Betsy and the Seashells dresses…and finally decided on the Seashells… Hate making decisions when both choices are so wonderful. Thank you for each fabulous pattern we receive each week.
Debbie
December 14, 2016
The Betsy Dress! It is gorgeous!
Kimberly
December 14, 2016
I voted for the Betsy dress as it’s on my wish list and I love it! Thanks for Freebie Friday!!!
Elaine
December 14, 2016
Betsy dress. All so nice. Thanks for sharing.
Linda B
December 14, 2016
Love Melody Valerie patterns!! Such spectacular details! I voted for that stunning Betsy Dress! I see it made up as the most gloriouse New Year’s Eve ball gown ever!! That.back detail and the shirred bodice oh my!! Fingers crossed – thank you for your generosity and creating such excitement in the cold of winter while we all wait!! ??
Amy
December 14, 2016
The Betsy dress – so beautiful! Thank you for so many free patterns!
Deb
December 14, 2016
Thank you for your generosity! I vote for the Seashells dress. Thank you! Happy Holidays!
Melodie
December 14, 2016
Hard to decide, but I voted for the Check dress. All are nice! Thanks for giving us the opportunity to get a free pattern each Friday!
During her university studies, she cultivated her gifts for design, presentation, and garment construction. In 2008, she founded Melody Valerie Couture, which provides limited edition, couture-quality dresses to 18″ dolls. 
Mary Anne
December 14, 2016
The Betsy Dress!! I’ve learned how to sew couture using Melinda’s patterns! They are so well made, they’ve made me a much better sewer. Thanks, Melinda, and thanks Cinnamon for Freebie Fridays! I love supporting you guys!