A needlepointer's guide to Paris

A brief roundup of needlework & craft stores

I was in Paris last week for a friend’s wedding. I thought I’d share a list of these places I went along with a little map if you happen to be going, too. 

View the interactive map on Google here.

Tapisseries de France
7, Rue des Moulins 75001 Paris 
Needlework Shop

This shop was right around the corner from my hotel and was my first of the two true needlework shops in Paris. If you haven’t seen either online, they’re both very traditional shops and quite small. It was very sweet with a blend of fully kitted canvases and painted canvas. I walked away from this shop with a small kitted canvas that I’ll find ways to make it feel a bit more modern (maybe a baby blue and white striped background). The shop itself was lovely but certainly in a more traditionalist style and you may have difficulty finding something you will want to stitch. For price comparison, this kit was 55 euros and is not stitch painted (Stitch painted means that each intersection is painted with a precise color, which makes them easier to stitch, and is a feature of many modern American canvases). 

Tapisseries de la Bûcherie
2 Rue du Haut Pavé, 75005 Paris, France
Needlework Shop

Again, a very traditionalist shop with a blend of fully kitted canvases and just a panted canvas. I didn’t find anything that I was particularly keen to stitch and knew I just wanted one as a souvenir. The pricing was comparable to the other shop, Tapisseries de France.

Sajou
16 Bis Rue de la Chancellerie, 78000 Versailles
Haberdashery / Notions Store

You SIMPLY MUST. I knew Sajou would be amazing, but it exceeded all my expectations. I was a little hesitant because the website said it is their workshop, but half is truly set up for retail. First knock on the window, the sweet women that work there will wave you to the door to buzz you in. Enter the courtyard and you’ll see another door on your left. Within the building door, there’s two interior doors, left is their eCommerce and workroom, but THEN they unlock the jewelbox of a showroom, brimming with the prettiest fabrics, trims, scissors, and other needlework objects you’ve ever seen. I was worried about finding it and imposing but my fears were very unfounded. It was extremely welcoming. (I posted a little reel over on Instagram about locating it if that helps put your mind at ease, too). 

To get there, you can take a commuter train C from Musee D’ Orsay in Paris to Versailles. Exit at stop Versailles Château Rive Gauche station. When you exit the station, turn left. Walk down Avenue de Sceaux. Sajou will be on your left. Simply knock on the windows and you will be directed. 

La Droguerie
9-11, rue du jour, 75001 Paris
Notions / Sewing / Jewelry 

My friend Suzanne of @PointedlyNeedled on Instagram recommended La Droguerie and wow was it amazing! Formerly a butcher shop, they’ve kept much of the same character in the shop. It offers knitting, sewing, fabrics, jewelry making, trims/ribbons, and buttons. They have shops in other areas of Europe and Japan. 

La Petite Epicerie 
74 Rue de la Verrerie, 75004 Paris
Craft Store / Notions 

La Petite Epicerie is more of a craft and DIY store than a true needlework shop but it is a fun stop for gifts for all your crafty friends and family. They have some of the mainstay craft brands and gift lines but also really fun French lines that offer unique gifting–or for you. 

BHV Department Store
52 Rue de Rivoli, 75004 Paris
Craft department 

Hear me out. BHV Department Store was great for finding some unique holidays fabrics I took home. They also stocked your basic floss, pearls, and tapestry yarn and some simple needlepoint kits and printed canvases. It’s like a Michael’s equivalent. wouldn’t add this to the short list, but if you happen to be in la Marais and you’re pressed to find a color match, head up to the 2nd floor. 

Librairie-Boutique du Musée du Louvre
Allée du Grand Louvre, 75001 Paris, France
Museum gift shop

DMC offers an exclusive line of canvases to the Louvre including cross stitch in a round hoop on a ground canvas and Victorian Cross Stitch. The canvases that I spotted were: the Mona Lisa, a Vermeer and some florals. It made for a fairly limited selection, but I thought the Mona Lisa bookmark was a nice small kitted project gift.

Musée des Arts Décoratifs 
107 Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris, France
Museum and gift shop, honorable mention

Suzanne joined our group for a quick lap around Musée des Arts Décoratifs  and it was incredible. I could have spent all day here and it doesn’t have a huge connection to needlework. HOWEVER! A big focus of the museum is tracking material culture through French history and I think many of you may be interested in this. The gift shop is also extremely stoppable. I didn’t peep any needlework kits but they do stock some little Sajou bits and bobs if you’re in Paris and can’t make it to Versailles. The shop is accessible without entry ticket.

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I didn’t have a ton of time to focus just on textiles and needlework and am certainly not an expert.

Thank you especially to my friends Janet and Suzanne and many others who offered their ideas and recommendations!

When I stopped into Tapassiere Paris, the shop worker also shared a copy of Textile Travels which lists many shops and is probably the best resource for this. They offer guides in many cities.

I hope this little round up was fun and helpful!

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Thank you endlessly for being a subscriber. It means the world that you’re here! When I’m back, I’m looking forward to jumping back in on the tutorials.