During my trip to Paris I managed to fit in some yarn shopping. Well, when I said managed, I actually mean I begged, implored, petitioned, whined and played nice until I was allowed to go. I also think yarn is a great holiday souvenir. I'm not keen on little tacky things they sell in souvenir shops and for me yarn is a much better memory inducing souvenir. When I get home I get to fondle it (yes really!), and then knit with it and then wear it. A much nicer reminder of a great holiday.
This trip I visited La Droguerie near Les Halles in Paris after hearing a lot about the shop from friends. It is a shop very different to most yarn shops I have ever been to. When you walk in, all the available yarn is hanging in skeins around the shop. The yarn is their own. They have samples of their patterns knitted around the shop to choose from. You decide on your yarn and then order it by weight, the ladies then go to the back of the shop and wind it off for you. This was a bit intimidating as ordering in french is slightly frightening for my limited spoken french. The ladies were very nice and helpful though and could speak English and help me out.
The shop also sells a lovely range of buttons, beads and fabric. I did also buy some fabric and buttons and came back with this lovely lot:
I think the yarn will be made into a hat, scarf and mitten set with the snowflake buttons. No plans for the fabric as yet, but I just liked it :)
Overall - La Droguerie - well worth a visit and an interesting yarn shopping experience.