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Needle Arts in Budapest

My husband and I will be traveling to Budapest and want to see if we can find any shops, markets that have lace, embroidery, etc crafts done by hand by locals. I have seen some of the hand work that Pandora Balthazar has at her shop in Pensacola, FL that was done by Hungarians and it is beautiful. Just wondering if I could see it there at a place we need to visit.
Thank you for your help!

Posted by
2735 posts

I am also interested in traditional Hungarian crafts and found a lot of the needlework variety at Folkart Kezmuveshaz (Craftsman's House) on Regi Posta utca, just off Vaci utca. Also some great tile and pottery items and folk clothing. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g274887-d8039835-Reviews-Folkart_Kezmuveshaz-Budapest_Central_Hungary.html

There is a shop I like on Castle Hill, Tarnok 10 Galeria (that's the address) that has wonderful folk art paintings and Hungarian pottery, not just Herend and Hollohaza but made by locals.

You will see plenty of kalocsa embroidery around as well--the bright floral designs on white are very distinctive, but I don't know if it's hand or machine-embroidered. I do like to buy tops from Memories of Hungary that are made by women in a collective called Matyodesign. Unique tops, scarves and totes, all hand-embroidered. https://matyodesign.hu/webshop/

Posted by
178 posts

I agree with Christa’s recommendation of Folkart Kézmüvesház. I wasn’t impressed with what I saw at the Great Market Hall, to me it all looked machinemade on not very nice fabric. But this shop has a huge selection of embroidery - cross-stitch, openwork, woollen embroidery, the very distinctive pieces from Kalocsa, Matyoland, lace from Halas, items appliqued with felt, white work. Well worth a visit.

Posted by
22162 posts

If you cant make the trip to one of the other places mentioned, this shop carries above average goods for a souvenir market: http://memoriesofhungary.hu/en/ and there is another place along here that has some lovely hand made things. I just cant remember the name. You will see it in the window though: https://goo.gl/maps/CCLhu9EwuG52

Posted by
9 posts

How about fabric stores or quilting guilds/shows? Any suggestions? I am looking for sources of the ‘Hungarian Blue’ fabric.