I'm going to Paris in 10 days--Yippee! I've loved reading the forums and appreciate the people who responded to my earlier posts this year. I've been reviewing posts and taking down notes. I've been thinking of souvenirs and I am a sewer and knitter, so I am interested in any fabric and/or yarn stores in Paris. Does anyone have any favorites in either category that they would recommend? I'd love to hear about them, so I can check them out.

I stumbled across this ribbon and fabric store in the Marais - here is a link to some of the things that I found intriguing from a photographic viewpoint. (Look at the 'shops and wares' tab - it is still under construction, but the photos you are interested in are listed there).

http://www.pbase.com/jsemmer

I will try and look at a map and see if I can find the exact name or location.

If you like the look of the Provencal prints, then Les Olivades and Souleiado are great places for wonderful quality cotton fabrics. Pricey, but they launder beautifully; Les Olivades is a bit less expensive than Souleiado (which is Pierre Deux here in US). Both have shops in St. Germain, the 6th arr.; Souleaido is on rue de Seine, I believe.

On your way up to Montmartre, in the rue Steinkerque, you'll encounter quite a few shops selling fabric by the yard (or rather by the metre).

Le Rouvray - operated by an American ex-pat: http://www.lerouvray.com/

for knitting yarns and great patterns- Anne Blat in the Marais

If you like sewing items for the home, then look at the beautiful fabrics by Pierre Frey. On the expensive side, but excellent quality.
http://www.pierrefrey.fr/fr/produits/Tissus.htm
Under "contact" you can get the locations of his stores in Paris.

Marché St. Pierre
2, rue Charles Nodier
Paris, 75018
01 46 06 56 34

Take the metro to Anvers and walk up rue Steinkerque (a few shops are on this street) to Saint Pierre. At Saint Pierre (only 2 blocks up) turn right. You will see a several floor building which is Marche St.Pierre. There are 4 or 5 floors of fabrics inside. There are also other fabric stores in this area. The prices are reasonable. There are also shops with trims, thread, etc.

Have fun!

La Droguerie, 9-11 rue du Jour in the 1st (very close to the Les Halles metro stop) has lovely yarns, as well as trims and buttons. The yarn (wool, alpaca, linen, mohair, cashmere in wonderful colours) is sold by weight, but the yardage (well, metreage) is clearly marked. The yarn on display is only a sample; ask one of the sales staff for the amount you want, and they will disappear and reappear sometime later with skeins of yarn. They also have patterns of designs from Marie Claire 100 Idées featuring their yarns. They are in French, but the patterns have schematics, and there are lots of online sources that show translations of knitting terms. There is a definite protocol at La Droguerie--particularly for buying trims--so stand back for a few minutes to observe. Some people complain that the staff are rude, but they just expect you to follow the rules; if you do, they’re great.

I understand that Galeries Lafayette and Bon Marché (department stores) also have good yarn sections, and there are Phildar boutiques here and there.


Quilting (courtepointe) is popular in France--both the traditional whole cloth quilting from Provence (boutis) and American patchwork. I have some lovely books of boutis patterns that I bought in Provence, and I’m sure you could find them in Paris.

Good hunting.

the streets around marche St. Pierre are sewers heaven. NOTE, that is a person who sews and not a conduit of sewage I could while away hours in the fabic shops there and I have several times. Deborah

Thanks to all who replied. It sounds wonderful! I prefer dressmaking to home decor but I checked out le Rouvray's website and started thinking about chairs that needed new seat covers, pillows, maybe something for my bedroom. . . I plan to take some knitting with me on the plane and I would love to bring back some yarn and fabrics from France to keep the memories going. Merci!

ttt - bookmarking!

Surfmom, I love your photos ESPECIALLY the shop pictures!!

Definitely visit the streets below Sacre Couer. It's a small garment district there. Lots of fabric shops.

I'll second the recommendations for the area near Sacre Coeur. I picked up a nice reasonably priced cotton print there a couple of years ago.

I also liked Bouchara, next to Printemps. It is at 54 Blvd. Haussmann right at the Metro stop Havre-Caumartin. There are lots of ideas for the wonderful French curtains..ready made as well as the fabric.

grantop, glad you liked the photos...they are a work in progress, so when finished, I'll post a trip report and a link. the shop photos and the food ones were/are my favorites...