Hi, We are off to Paris tomorrow, so I will hopefully look up the fabric shops recommended here. I am particularly looking for dressmaking stuff, so will report back if I find any interesting outlets. Don't know if the French are into crafts so I will look there too.

I love the idea of having some fabric made into something to remember my trip to Paris. However, I don't sew!

Is it in appropriate to ask on this board if someone give me an idea of how much fabric to buy for throw pillows, whether in meters or square meters or doublewide or whatever.

sherry1,

I sew, but the answer depends so much on the width of the particular fabric.

If you have an idea of the size pillow you want, perhaps you could figure out the size in centimeters, then the person selling the fabric could figure out how much you need to get.

~Liz

I think the last suggestion about getting help there is great one. Just figure out in cm the dimensions of the pillow, take that with you and ask. People will be happy to help!

If you buy a pattern--Vogue, Butterick, whatever--the metric conversions are listed. You can bring the pattern instructions with you and you'll have no trouble getting the correct yardage.

This makes me think of something! If Europeans don't sell fabric in yards, as we do, what do they call "yardage?"

sherry1, Look at pillows before you go and decide which size you like, measure it, then add a couple of inches. You need at least 1/2" for the seam allowance all around, but I would get a little extra. (And of course you need enough for two pieces unless you plan to use something else for the back of the pillow.) I just carry a small retracting tape measure in my purse so I don't have to worry about changing to metric! Then I can actually measure the fabric and know I'm getting enough.

Also, if you want fringe on your pillows, you will find lots of that as well in those stores along rue de Steinkerque.

The other thing I meant to say was that you can't depend on the clerk in the store speaking English, so I like to be able to measure the fabric to be sure we're understanding each other as far as quantity.

I live in Paris for a few years now and i ll give only one Place to go ! MADURA ! First time i was there I almost passed out... Wonderful ... You can find the most beautyful colors and quality for a reasonable price ... You can find them here :

PARIS 6ème
66, rue de Rennes
Tél. : (33) 01 45 44 71 30
Subway St-Sulpice
St-Germain-des-Prés

PARIS 8ème
6, rue Tronchet
Tél. : (33) 01 47 42 92 92
Subway Madeleine, RER Auber

You can also check their website :
http://www.madurahome.com/

enjoy!