I hope to purchase fabric (fat quarters) in the cities we visit on our trip - planning to make a travel quilt eventually. I'm wondering if any of you also quilt and can direct me to quilt stores in Paris, London, Zurich, Munich and Salzburg.
Posted by
Frankfurt, Germany
9207 posts
I don't think quilting is a big hobby over here. Have never seen a quilting store anywhere, though perhaps I have just never noticed. Perhaps someone else has though. Lots of fabric stores, wool and knitting stores, embroidery and cross stich though.
Posted by
near NY, NJ, USA
445 posts
There is a quilting shop in Paris in the 5th not far from Notre Dame. It is run by an American although their web site is in French.
http://www.lerouvray.com/informations/index.html
In addition , try Googling the areas you are going to. What you will find in any shops in Europe carrying quilt fabrics is that they have American fabrics.
What I did was just to buy some cotton fabric in the right weight in patterns I liked and which were compatible.
Posted by
near NY, NJ, USA
445 posts
This is a good website with lots of information. AS I said before, you will
mainly find American quiting fabrics so
just buy some fabric in a local market.
In France, you can find some nice cottons especially in Provencal prints, in the markets.
Posted by
Atlanta, Georgia
135 posts
Vicki, in London, there is Liberty's of London, with their famous small-print cottons. Google "fabric shops" and you should come up with several. In the German speaking countries, google "Stoffgeschaeft" or Stoffe (Stoff means material or fabric) for each city you plan to visit. It's been a long time since I've bought any material in Europe but I seem to remember that even years ago these cottons were very expensive and very fine, more for blouses and children's clothes etc. I think the concept "fat quarters" is unknown in Europe but you should be able to buy 1/4 meter, which, I think, is roughly 9-10 inches or so.
Posted by
Taylor, TX, USA
416 posts
While in Florence, we came upon a quilt show so there definitely are quilters in Europe. This particular show was benefiting victims of domestic violence if I recall correctly.
Posted by
OP
Canby, Oregon
4 posts
Thank you ladies. I know I should be able to go to the shop in Paris that is near Notre Dame. The other cities may be more of a challenge.
Posted by
Indianapolis, Indiana, usa
360 posts
I visit le Rouvray whenever I'm in paris. They do carry mostly American quilt fabrics, but I have bought fabric that is French. Take care when washing, as it faded more than expected. Take a look at boutis which is a type of Fr quilting. I bought patterns & directions at Le Bon Marche which has an good needlework department. I always find something interesting there. The dept is hard to find tho - it's up by the luggage. Also when googling, use the word patchwork as well as quilting. I think patchwork is more commonly used in Europe.
Posted by
Walnut Creek, CA
368 posts
Hi Viki:
When I was in Paris my guide took me to an area in Monmartre. There must have been at least 10 fabric stores and several stores that had buttons etc. I don't know the streets, but GOOGLE fabric stores in Paris and you may get something. I do remember looking up and it seemed like we were right below the side of the hill.
Here is something from trip advisor.
'..Ground Zero' for fabric shops in Paris will probably be up in the 18eme-Montmartre, below Sacre Coeur. There are a concentration of fabric and sweing & needlecraft shos up in this neighborhood...the largest will be--
DREYFUS-MARCHÉ SAINT PIERRE--
http://www.marche-saint-pierre.fr/
Good luck. Iended up getting some beautiful yarn and now have a scarf to remember my trip by.
Posted by
la frette sur seine
448 posts
Yes, the Marché St Pierre at the bottom of Sacré Coeur is the fabric center of Paris. I don't know what you put into your quilts/patchwork, but there's a lovely shop, La Droguerie, 9, rue du Jour, near Saint Eustache/Les Halles...full of ribbons, beads, buttons, feathers.
Posted by
Boston, MA, US
6 posts
Just was in this one last week in Munich. A lovely shop! Lots of fat quarters.
Quilt u. Textilkunst
Sebastiansplatz 4
80331 München, Germany
089 23077401?
quiltundtextilkunst.de
Posted by
Sacramento, California U.S.A.
10590 posts
I searched for a store in Paris for quilt fabric (quilting is called patchwork there) and did find the one in the 5th near Notre Dame and bought some there. It was definitely more expensive than here, so I just bought a small amount for a friend as a gift. Most of their fabric was what you would find here, but they did have some Provencial designs. The fabric stores I found in Monmartre were more for clothing, not quilting. I also found fabric in a department store - I think it was Bon Marche. Just google fabric and Paris and see what you come up with.