Back-to-work: 2 Looks, 1 Grenadine Dress!

Automn is Fast Approaching, and with it, the Desire to Refresh Your Wardrobe

As back-to-work approaches, so does the urge to refresh your wardrobe. Why not opt for unique and personalised pieces, crafted by your own hands? Today, we present two inspiring outfits centred around the free pattern for the Grenadine mini skirt, a little gem launched this summer that will also be perfect for autumn.

We will guide you through the creation of two distinct looks that showcase the versatility of the Grenadine skirt: a chic and slightly rock style with the Tigris trench coat in greige gabardine and the Grenadine skirt in Fauve Party jacquard, and an elegant and timeless touch with the Metropolis jacket in black and ecru crochet.

Outfit 1: Chic and Rock with the Tigris Trench

Tigris is a coat pattern we launched last winter, and we are offering you the complementary pieces in PDF format for free to create a perfect trench coat for autumn. The trench is a wardrobe staple, and the grège gabardine lends it a sober and refined elegance. It will be perfect for toning down the more rock vibe of the Grenadine skirt in « roooooar » Fauve Party jacquard and the Skyline light denim shirt. I paired the jacquard with silver piping available on our website to highlight the signature cut of the skirt.

To complete the outfit, I chose a stylish pair of slightly chunky boots, but a pair of nice cowboy boots or biker boots will keep with the same rock spirit. A pair of beautiful riding boots would be a more classic but equally elegant choice. Here, the Skyline denim shirt is tied at the waist for a casual style, but you can achieve a more formal look by sewing it in white Tencel and simply tucking it into your skirt.

Tigris Trench in grège gabardine – Skyline Shirt – Grenadine Skirt in Fauve Party with silver piping

Outfit 2: Elegant and Timeless with the Metropolis Jacket in Crochet

The Metropolis jacket is a lovely boxy jacket, with a very beautiful slightly cropped cut and a trompe-l’œil buttoning. After sewing it in wool, jacquard, and tweed, I wanted to try out our brand-new crochet fabric for a result reminiscent of a little Chanel cardigan.

The result is just perfect: I love the knitted jacket look, and the stripes add a nice rhythm to the otherwise classic cut of the jacket. I fully embrace the codes of the famous fashion house by pairing my outfit with small two-tone black and beige pumps, a nod to the timeless Chanel sling backs beloved by Coco.

The combo of white blouse, crochet jacket, and a small beige gabardine skirt is very effective, so I completed the outfit with my Atlas blouse in white Tencel: instantly recognisable thanks to its beautiful pleats on the front bodice and echoed on the cuffs, Atlas is the perfect alternative to the white shirt. Its buttoned neckline, inspired by a Tunisian collar, can be fastened higher or lower according to your preferences, and its lovely volume becomes airy in a fabric with a nice drape.

Metropolis in crochet – Atlas Blouse in white Tencel – Grenadine Skirt in grège gabardine with gold piping

Focus on Crochet Sewing Techniques

Here are a few recommendations for sewing a jacket in our crochet fabric:

• I chose the version without bands for the Metropolis jacket to avoid weighing down the model due to the fabric choice. I also did not add shoulder pads, to maintain the cardigan-style knitted jacket vibe.

• Cut your neckline facing and front facing pieces from a non-knit fabric. I cut mine from our black cotton voile, which complements the crochet well and ensures your jacket remains flawless even if it opens while walking. You’ll need about 70 cm of fabric to cut these pieces.

• For pattern matching, check out the sewing tutorial video available in our “Sewing Secrets” section, where I share some tips based on the Pam coat pattern (the principle is the same ;) ).

• Interface the neckline facing and front facing pieces as indicated with Vlieseline G700, but avoid applying interfacing to the sleeve and jacket hems.

• Our crochet fabric doesn’t have the elasticity of a typical knit like sweatshirt fabric, and we sewed it easily with a classic straight stitch without needing an overlocker. Additionally, the Metropolis jacket is lined, so the inside of the seams will be well protected. For the lining, you’ll need a fabric that glides to ensure comfort. I recommend our off-white cupro lining, perfect for this model.

• To avoid any difficulties when sewing buttonholes, place a piece of tissue paper or baking parchment between your fabric and the feed dogs of your machine, and do some test adjustments. I chose a buttonhole setting for medium to heavy fabrics with rounded ends and slightly lengthened the stitch.

• For everything you need to know about our crochet fabric, check out this article in our Fabric Library dedicated to the material.