[mariasasse]

Hi everybody.

I am looking for tips on shopping for fabric in Paris. After 4 and a half years of devoted parenthood, my husband and I will make a short trip without the children. We love them and all… but this promises to be SO wonderful without them 🙂

I will be mostly inclined to buying fabric for me. Rayons, Viskose, maybe a silk if it is not extremely expensive… or I don´t know.. what would you recommend? Maybe someone has some tips on what and where to buy… and most importantly what are the names of fabrics in french… this I need to learn. Tips on food, drinks and music will also be appreciated… and if there are any bike fans like us… also some tips about a paris bicycle map (if something like that even exists).

I will be truly thankfull for any info.

Maria

[Lightning McStitch]

I don’t know anything about fabric shopping, but as a fellow cyclist, if you’re brave enough to do the rond-point at the top of the Champs Elysee then go for it! If that sounds horrifying then I’d check out the velo-libre system and whether they still close the road along the Seine on Sundays. That’s a great scenic route.
Or, head out to the Bois de Boulogne and hire bikes….
Or, drive North and ride some cobbled forests up near Roubaix…
Or… 🙂 obviously hit on a favourite subject. I could plan cycling holidays in France all day long!
Look forward to hearing about the fabric shopping as well.

[mariasasse]

Thank you Lightning. This is very good information. I am brave 🙂 I ride on my bike through the city (Berlin, Germany) the whole time… but I have no idea how it is in Paris. I am really excited.

[Sarvi]

Unfortunately the last time I was in Paris it was before I did much sewing, but I can recommend that if you visit the Jardin des Plantes, head out through the back exit and have a cup of hot, sweet mint tea under the fig trees in the back patio of the Paris Mosque.

http://www.outandaboutinparis.com/2011/08/tea-people-watching-souk-and-even.html

David Lebovitz has a very nifty app which he updates with the latest and greatest places to get sweet bites and more, you can find it through his site:

http://www.outandaboutinparis.com/2011/08/tea-people-watching-souk-and-even.html

And here are a few blogs that turned up in a quick search, but I have no personal experience:

http://www.threadsmagazine.com/item/30910/finding-fabric-shops-in-paris/page/all

http://www.tillyandthebuttons.com/2014/12/fabric-shopping-in-paris.html

[Sarvi]

And congratulations on the trip! Paris is such a wonderful city, and it’s great to take some time for yourself. It’s very renewing. Have fun!

[SarahGreen]

Last time we were in Paris we stayed in an apartment on the Rue de Mulhouse near Rue Montorgueil. There were fabric houses up and down our street. Although I think most wee only open to wholesales, it might be possible to find a few to sell to an individual. I was drooling at the windows. There are many other fabric art boutiques in the neighborhood as well. And, there was an arcade off the big road that heads toward the Garnier Opera House that also had a few shops with some cool vintage things.

I hope you can find out something more helpful with that bit of information, and I wish you bonne chance!

[mariasasse]

Wow!! Thank you Sarvi and Sarah… those tips are really great. I will definitely look everything up online. I am missing the names of the Fabrics in French… I will research. I know that in Montmartre there should be a big nice store Reine. And someone told me about a store in the area you are talking about, I forgot the name. I´ll check that out too 🙂

Yes, it is important. This weekend we were starting to have a dark conscience about leaving the kids (2 and 4 year old) with Oma und Opa… but now we are over it!! 🙂 A friend of ours told us “don´t worry, my parents didn´t even leave us with Grandparents.. they payed some agency and flew away to save their marriage!” And it worked! The couple is already 50 years happily together… so we will definitely be drinking some Champagne to that!

[Reeni]

coton — cotton
cuir – leather
daim — suede
feutre — felt
laine — wool
soie — silk

this is what i remember from a very long-ago time of reading French Vogue… as of now tho, many terms are in English or close enough (acrilique, etc)… many times shopping for fabric where I don’t speak the language, I try to bring swatches or wear clothes in the texture I’m looking for. if all else fails, tell them what you are making. Ie “Like for pants?” “Pour un manteau?” HTH!

[dubhels2003]

I recently mooted the idea of a Paris sewing trip to my Mum, Auntie and cousin. I had found this page suggesting some sewing shops, if it’s of any help to you:- http://atelierclaraines.canalblog.com/archives/2012/09/17/25121595.html

Not sewing related, but I had also saved this:- http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/may/06/top-10-cafes-paris And don’t get me started on patisserie…

I have recently ordered fabric from France and thought I was getting cotton. I did get cotton. Laminated cotton. Oops. There must be some kind of international sewing dictionary which translates key terms into numerous languages… I’m after Spanish for next month if anyone knows of such a thing!

Have a brilliant time!

• This reply was modified 9 years ago by dubhels2003.

[Lightning McStitch]

I just found this via instagram http://www.stitchingupparis.com How awesome would a guided shopping tour of the out of the way fabric stores of Paris be?! Possibly too late for @mariasasse but maybe of use here as a reference.

[Maria Borges Duarte]

Hope I’m not too late for this, but I read this post today about fabric shops in Paris, that might help. Have a great time!

http://doguincho.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/paris-sewing-bloggers-meeting.html