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
100 Comments
wendydiane
December 22, 2016
All the dresses are lovely, but I think the Betsy dress is very elegant I would vote for the Betsy dress. Thank you for the free patterns.
Patricia Bridges
December 16, 2016
The last several weeks I have not received my email to vote or to get the pattern. I have checked all the folders and nothing in fact I can’t even see what dress won and where to get pattern. I have tried updating my subscription and everything. I really looked forward every Wed. and Friday to getting your emails.
Sharon
December 16, 2016
Thank you so much for the beautiful pattern. Can’t wait to start this dress.
Janice Hamman
December 16, 2016
The Betsy gown.
Patricia Horton
December 16, 2016
Hi Melody, thanks for all the choices this Friday. Loved each and every one!!
I will have to go with the Betsy gown, and the street version. I just love it!! Both dresses from one pattern…..that is awesome to do! thanls for all the beautiful choices!!
Have a very Merry christmas! to all of you!!!!
Cheryl
December 16, 2016
Was surprised and thrilled when I saw today’s pattern. Absolutely beautiful pattern, one of the best ever, and I have a granddaughter who would be delighted with such a lovely gown. Thank you so much for sharing, it was a wonderful Christmas gift!
caroline
December 16, 2016
Betsy please :)
Virginia
December 16, 2016
Thank you for the precious Betsy Dress pattern.
Linda
December 16, 2016
Betsy Dress is so sweet. Would love that one please.
Pam
December 16, 2016
I would love to have the Betsy Dress on the freeby Friday. Love your patterns.
Liza
December 16, 2016
Thank you soooo much for this lovely pattern.
ellen
December 16, 2016
I don’t usually leave comments but I am sooo impressed with the wonderful designs this week. Everything in her shop is original and creative!! Thank you for the awesome pattern. I will be visiting your shop again soon….thanks again.
Tersa
December 15, 2016
I’m casting my vote for the Betsy Dress, just in time for the New Year Celebration. A girl needs to be Dressed up! Thank you so much for Freebie Friday, I always look forward to Friday. “What will we get this time?”. Beautiful patterns.
Jaclyn C
December 15, 2016
I wanted to throw my vote for the Betsy dress but poll was closed after 10PM Thurs.
The Betsy dress is beautiful and so versatile! Thank you Melody Valerie Couture for which ever pattern wins.
Lezlie
December 15, 2016
It’s only 9pm CST Thurs. & the poll for voting is closed ? Wanted to vote for Betsy Dress. Hopefully it will be the winner in the morning. Thank you for great patterns !
Joan
December 15, 2016
Betsy Dress-so cute!
Kathy
December 15, 2016
I love all of your designs, Melody, because of their originality. However, my favorite in this group is the Betsy dress.
Pam
December 15, 2016
The Betsy dress is my choice
Cristina
December 15, 2016
I vote for Betsy dress thank you
Shirley
December 15, 2016
Thank you so much, Betsy has my vot
Nutmeg
December 15, 2016
The Betsy Dress is my vote this week. Thank you Melinda and Cinnamon for your offers. I, too, love this designer!
Dinah Snyder
December 15, 2016
It’s hard to decide, but I like the Check dress best. Followed closely by the Seashell dress!
Marcie
December 15, 2016
Thank you for the free Friday patterns. Very generous and so many different styles. Which ever one wins will be great.
Liz
December 15, 2016
All of the dress patterns are wonderful! I must vote for Betsy. It is so cute and I like the 2 hem lengths. Melinda, I can’t wait to try out which ever pattern wins, they’re all great! Thank you, Pixie Faire for giving us the opportunity to try out one of Melinda’s patterns.
Jim
December 15, 2016
My vote goes for the Betsy Dress! It has been on my wish list for a long time.
Thanks for all the great patterns.
Norma
December 15, 2016
I like the look of the Betsy dress. It can be a Prom gown or bridesmaid gown or Mother of the Bride gown – many possibilities. All the patterns are fabulous, and thank you Melinda for all of them. Can’t wait to start sewing again for my “GIRLS”.
Patricia
December 15, 2016
They are all so beautiful it’s hard to choose but I will go with the Betsy dress.
Catherine
December 15, 2016
Sea Shells for my vote, hands down! I like the line of it, and the skirt design looks like a good challenge.
Kathy H
December 15, 2016
My vote is the New Girl Dress
Thank You.
Donna Ingalls
December 15, 2016
Thank you Cinnamon, for ‘Freeby Friday’!! Look forward to it every week!! Today my choice is the Check dress! Love the design. So age appropriate!!
Christine
December 15, 2016
Love the lines of the New Girl dress.
Elaine
December 15, 2016
I love Steam Punk and The Betsy’s Dress gets my vote. Thank you so much for the free pattern for Freebie Friday.
Gale
December 15, 2016
Betsy Dress, although Sea Shells is a close second. You are so kind to share of your patterns in this manner.
Marge R (mer)
December 15, 2016
WOW, what a tough choice between Melinda’s awesome patterns! After much deliberation, I’ve voted for Check, but will be equally thrilled with SeaShells or Betsy. I have her New Girl pattern from a previous Freebie Friday. Thank you Pixie Faire and Melinda for Freebie Fridays! ;)
Deirdre
December 15, 2016
I love them all, they are all so different, but today New Girl dress gets my vote. Thankyou for your generosity.
Cecelia
December 15, 2016
I have some of these patterns and they are all beautiful. Thank you for such great pattern choices. The Betsy Dress gets my vote this time because steampunk has caught my interest.
Debra
December 15, 2016
All beautiful, but I vote for the Betsy dress! I even love the story in the description! Thanks again for your continuing generosity.
Linda Reynolds
December 15, 2016
They are all cute, but I prefer the Check dress.
celeste maria
December 15, 2016
I prefer “Check” please. Tks
Meg
December 15, 2016
I voted for the New Girl dress. I like the simple raglan sleeve and fitted bodice. I can envision many different looks by changing out the contrast panels. Again thank you for your generosity.
kathy
December 15, 2016
love them all!!!
Jane
December 15, 2016
I voted for the Seashells dress altho it looks hard but it"s so pretty. Thanks so much for these pretty dress patterns.
PennyT.
December 15, 2016
These are all wonderful, but the Betsy dress gets my vote this time. I’m happy to see a few “dramatic” gowns (this week and last) come up in the Freebie Friday poll. “Fancy” was always my favorite type of doll clothes when I was a kid.
Shawna
December 15, 2016
I LOVE them all but coming down and only picking one I vote for the Betsy Dress.
Molly
December 15, 2016
I love the Betsey dress!
Lin K
December 15, 2016
The knit Seashells dress gets my vote. It’s made with knit instead of woven fabric and has a happy, casual and comfy look. My niece’s doll would love it!
Ronda Pindzola
December 15, 2016
I already have all of them except the Seashell dress so I hope this one wins.
Donna
December 15, 2016
Definitely the Betsy dress, it’s just gorgeous!
Jena
December 15, 2016
Every dress is lovely and unique. But Betsy gets my vote today. I will be happy with any choice. Thank you so very much.
pat
December 15, 2016
These are all very nice, tough choice. Thank you.
Janie
December 15, 2016
I love the Seashells! You can just see her walking along a beach, wading in the water. They are all beautiful! Thank you again Melinda!
Joy-Anne Smith-Anderson
December 15, 2016
Oh so hard to decide! Thank you so much Melinda and Pixie Faire for this delicious dilemma! Beautiful dresses.
Deni
December 15, 2016
I voted for the Seashells dress as I too like to dress the dolls age appropriate. However, my granddaughter recently had a daddy and daughter dance at school and I think the short version of the Betsy dress could be made into an appropriate dress. I’m thinking it looks like Betsy might win, so I’ll be thinking about how to make it work.
Liz
December 15, 2016
Thank you for offering a free pattern! They are all very nice but I think I’ll check The New Girl one.
Christiane
December 15, 2016
je vote pour Betsy dress
merci beaucoup
maria
December 15, 2016
I vote Check dress. Thank you
Rene van Wyk
December 15, 2016
Oooh this is a real treat! Love Melinda’s designs!\
Thanks very much, they are all so pretty!
paulette
December 14, 2016
je vote pour The Betsy Dress Designed To Fit très jolie robe de soirée très bien pour les fêtes de fin d’année j’aime beaucoup
merci paulette
Kelly
December 14, 2016
Thank you very much for offering a free pattern this week Melinda. Your designs are all fantastic. I have several. I voted for Check. I love the vintage look and the cute tucks in the sleeve cap. I can picture adorable dresses, especially for AG Samantha, Rebecca, Nellie and Molly. Plus, it can easily be a modern dress simply by choosing solid colors. Color block dresses are very fashionable right now. This is a very versatile pattern; great for school, church, and special occasions. I love the look of plaids on little girls and their dolls.
Alla
December 14, 2016
The seashell dress is lovely. I see lots of variations. Betsy dress seem to fit a bit strange in front. And underline the doll’s hump. The idea of Betsy dress is nice, but not for AGdolls figure, imho.
cat
December 14, 2016
The Betsy Dress! It is gorgeous
Kathy Allen
December 14, 2016
Betsy Dress
Denise
December 14, 2016
Seashells! I love them all but my own 18 in doll is not an AG but an east German doll that was refurbished for me that I had fallen in love with. So while many patterns I get are for my daughter’s 18" AG dolls finding such a lovely pattern that covers the cloth upper arms for my doll is extra special. I love the entire design. It brings thoughts of blue skies and row boats on the lake. Can’t wait to try making this dress.
Pat
December 14, 2016
They’re all beautiful! My vote goes to the Check dress. I love it in the checkered fabric version!! Such a lovely variation just by changing the fabric. Thank you for so generously sharing your work with us!! Merry Christmas!
Steph
December 14, 2016
Betsy! Love, love, love it!
sharon Richards
December 14, 2016
Thank you so much for your beautiful designs but I think that the Betsy dress is really gorgeous and it will be nice to try something new like couture. Thank you again for this awesome gift.
Susan Botha
December 14, 2016
The Betsy Dress! For this festive time I think my doll will look perfect in this outfit. Thank you Melinda and thank you Pixie Faire!
Judy
December 14, 2016
New Girl dress gets my vote
Kate
December 14, 2016
Betsy dress or seashells…? Both are too cute! Thank you for your generosity!
Hazel
December 14, 2016
I like the sea shell dress. I think of the 18" doll as a little girl, aged 8 – 11. The Betsy dress reminds me of attire for an older looking doll. Thank you for sharing your gifts.
Hazel
December 14, 2016
I like the sea shell dress. I think of the 18" doll as a little girl, aged 8 – 11. This dress reminds me of attire for one much older. Thank you for sharing your gifts.
Martha Wexler
December 14, 2016
love Betsy dress
Lockie
December 14, 2016
Betsy dress, looks like a new years eve special!
Nicole
December 14, 2016
The Check dress is the best by far!
Ann Wright
December 14, 2016
I love them all. I chose Betsy dress because I do not have one dress like the Betsy Dress. I been making doll clothes for years and not one like this. I love that I can learn many new techniques on the Betsy dress. I can make it short too.
Thank you for offering us to vote.
Tracy
December 14, 2016
I love the New Girl dress and the seashell dress. I voted for the New Girl because I can see Christmas colors as a beautiful variation. Thank you!
Starr
December 14, 2016
Love the Seashells Dress , it flatters AG figure. Also it would be fun to customize.
Diana D
December 14, 2016
Thank you for the pattern. I voted for the Seashell dress.
margaret(Peggy
December 14, 2016
Betsey,betsey,betsey!
Violet
December 14, 2016
The Betsy Dress, so totally gorgeous.
Vicki Avery
December 14, 2016
Check or Seashells??? Tough decision! I, too, prefer a younger look.
Grace
December 14, 2016
They’re all great! I’m voting for Seashells, but wish I could vote for more.
PF Strong
December 14, 2016
Melinda, the details make each of your dresses very special. I love the idea of a drop waist in the Check Dress, but I think I might learn some new techniques from the beautiful Betsy pattern. Thank you so much for participating in Freebie Friday!
Ruth
December 14, 2016
I ike the “CHECK” dress.
Pauline Nissen
December 14, 2016
Would love the Betsy dress for my doll
Christie Bradley
December 14, 2016
Thank you so much! I love them all and I want them all, but I’m going to have to vote for the Betsy dress. I love the way it drapes. I also think it might teach me new techniques.
Nancy A.
December 14, 2016
Love the Betsy dress. It is like no other that our dolls have. Thanks for the great patterns.
Angela
December 14, 2016
Love the stunning Betsy dress!! All 4 are nice dresses but the details on the Betsy make it a standout!
Susan Mary Pike
December 14, 2016
I love this dress plus it has more material around the neck. I prefer the doll to have most of her material body near her neck to be covered. I love this dresss
Beckfritz
December 14, 2016
I love the seashells dress because it reminds me of days gone by
Eveline
December 14, 2016
The Betsy Dress is so beautiful, long or short it looks marveloux. This is the one I choose, thank you.
Ann S.
December 14, 2016
The Betsy dress is beautiful. It’s got my vote.
Linda in PA
December 14, 2016
I like New Girl, because of its color-block simplicity and clean lines. I have a lot of other 18" patterns that do dresses similar to the others; this one is different. Noe if these were all Wellie Wisher-sized, that would be a harder choice since there aren’t many patterns yet for them.
Dianne Rynne
December 14, 2016
All of your designs are so beautifully engineered! But I love the lines and fabric possibilities of New Girl.
Sue Ellen
December 14, 2016
I am voting for the Check dress this week. I prefer the “young girl” clothes for my dolls. Thank you for offering all these choices every week.
Dorrie
December 14, 2016
I also like the little girls to be little girls – I vote for Seashells, with Check a close second.
Pam
December 14, 2016
Would enjoy making any of them but I voted for the “Check” dress. Thank you so much!
Cindy
December 14, 2016
Thank you so much. All the dresses are lovely it was hard to choose just one but I voted for the Betsy dress.
Lynda
December 14, 2016
Love the check dress
Barb L
December 14, 2016
The Betsy dress is adorable! Hope I can make one before Christmas!
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. 
wendydiane
December 22, 2016
All the dresses are lovely, but I think the Betsy dress is very elegant I would vote for the Betsy dress. Thank you for the free patterns.