Sewing and Needle Craft Supplies

OVER the years, many shops and sewing departments dedicated to selling fabrics, patterns and haberdashery have disappeared from the Geneva-area landscape. Those that remain largely stock fabrics for home and hobby and less for couture creations, as well as basic sewing notions (thread, seaming binding, scissors, etc).

It’s been a sad process to see the winnowing of quality and diversity, but I’m encouraged that a few courageous entrepreneurs have bucked the trend and opened online and even a few bricks-and-mortar shops, some offering unique patterns from small labels, as well as basic supplies and occasionally sewing classes.

Below are the names and contact details of shops that I’ve come across in the past, though I haven’t checked in with them recently. As some do not have websites, I cannot verify that since writing this post, they still exist or have not changed their address. So I suggest you give them a call before heading out.

Fabric, Patterns, Notions, Knitting supplies – Shops

Geneva

• Textiles Acacias SA at 45B route des Acacias (1227 Les Acacias) stocks moderate and high-quality fabrics (including Liberty) for all sewing projects in addition to notions and patterns. Tel: 022.342.21.89
• For moderately-priced clothes, hobby and home fabrics stop by Alja, which has 43 locations across Switzerland including Geneva’s Rue de Grenus 2 outlet (near Manor) and in Nyon (in an apartment block) at Rue de la Gare 45. Alja Geneva offers sewing classes on Wednesdays.
• Manor department store at rue Cornavin 6, 1201 GE, stocks fabric for home creations. It also sells sewing notions and small equipment, knitting wool and crochet hooks, thread, ribbons and zippers, etc. Small branches of Manor also sell supplies but in smaller quantities and with less choice.
• Bernina has an outlet at the LaPraille shopping center selling their sewing machines, which they also service, and also haberdashery supplies and when I was last there some time ago, some quilting fabrics.
• Excellent haberdashery or notions (mercerie) stores in Geneva are Mercerie La Médina, at 5, rue de la Flèche (1207 GE), and Mercerie de la Madeleine, at 11, rue de la Madeleine (1211 GE).
• Catherine B. is a lovely shop in Geneva’s Old Town that is largely dedicated to embroidery and tapestry materials and kits, but also stocks useful items for sewing including ribbons, gorgeous tassels and thread, etc. Embroidery classes are offered on a regular basis.
• Larger branches of Coop grocery stores stock sewing notions as do Coop City outlets.

Lausanne

• In Lausanne, at 4 Langallerie, 1003 LA, at the corner of Rue Marterrey is “A Propos”, a small store that sells couture fabrics and a small selection of clothes. Closed on Mondays. Tel: 021.312.87.04. Tip: have a good idea of what you want ahead of time as browsing and taking your time is discouraged.

Elsewhere in Vaud Canton

• At the Signy Center above Nyon in Vaud canton I like the handy notions shop Wooly Tricot located on the first floor. I always find my buttons there from among a wall-full of choice and it also has  thread, tassels, zippers, and ribbons. However, it’s first and foremost a knitting supply store and here you’ll find wool, needles, knitting books and catalogues and a ‘café tricot’ knitting group and a selection of courses in knitting, crocheting and making handbags (some of which incorporate crochet).
• In Morges at Grand Rue 14 is the lovely shop L’Atelier Mercerie belonging to Béatrice Rietsch. She stocks a small but nice array of cotton fabrics as well as Liberty cotton bias tape, ribbons, thread and other notions. She also offers courses on her Bernina sewing machines for 9-13 year olds and for adults. Tel: 021.801.81.82 and email: atelier.mercerie@gmail.com
• Tissue & Co. in Rolle has a shopfront just opposite the train station in Rolle. Please see below under “Ordering fabric online”.

In France

• At 4, Passage des Bains, 74000 Annecy (tel: +33.4.50.52.96.14) is the lovely, large Mercerie Loisirs Créatifs, specialising in fabrics, yarns and notions for patchwork, embroidery and sewing. Closed Mondays.
• Mondial Tissue Annemasse in France has a large stock of fabrics for home decor, crafts and couture, but from I’ve heard the quality is not on par with elsewhere (I’ve not checked it out myself). Still, it might be worth a try: 16 Rue de Montreal La Combette, 74100 Ville-La-Grand.

Ordering patterns online

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Some Swiss fabric shops stock US and UK patterns, though not always with English instructions included so do check before buying. Some shops will order English-language patterns for you. Check that European-sourced (non-UK) Burda patterns that seam allowances are included if you prefer that.

You can also order online from US, UK and France; ordering your patterns during sales promotions, which happen regularly, can help offset postal shipping costs. It’s also worth ordering several patterns at once as shipping costs for two or three patterns may be the same as for one.

Sites I order from include:

• Sewessential (UK) offers patterns and also fabric, notions, sewing machines and gadgets, and patchwork and quilting supplies.
• Sewdirect in the UK, offering all the big-name brands (including Burda patterns with seams included)
• From the US, I order on SomethingDelightful, that carries Vogue, Butterick, McCall’s, Quick Sew and C.R. Gibson patterns. Also in the US, is Simplicity, that carries patterns, sewing trims and accessories, and supplies for needle crafts and also arts and crafts.
• To order Burda patterns to download in pdf. format go to BurdaStyle. Regarding seam allowances, the website says: “Seam allowances are not included in Burda Style patterns, but the instructions may indicate that seam allowances have been included. Be sure to read the model instructions.” (NB: Selling patterns without seam allowances makes no sense to me at all, but there you go, I’m sure there are some of you prefer them, so vive la différence!
• The French sewing site Patrons de Couture offeres an eclectic mix of patterns, sewing and needle craft supplies. I haven’t ordered from this site, and it appears the patterns are in French.
• If you’re a vintage fashion fan, check out Wikia Vintage Patterns, where more than 83,500 vintage (more than 25 years old dating from the 1920s onward) patterns are viewable and in some cases for sale. Enjoy patterns featuring glamorous movie stars from the ’30s and ’40s.