Saturday, September 26, 2009

Jeux d'aiguilles, Geneve, Switzerland

So, I google Quilt Shops in Geneve, Switzerland, before I left my hotel room this morning and what did you think I found? A directory of patchwork shops in Switzerland.... ok, ok, I know that is what google is for. Well, I found one entry for Geneve, so I looked it up on the city map and what do you know... it is less than a 10 minute walk from my hotel.... Oh, no... it is only open to 1pm on Saturdays... better hustle.... yes I slept in this morning :0).

So off I went to Jeux d'aiguilles. Nice looking front window...
So I go inside.... thru the window, I can see a group of women sitting at a table in the back. Did I catch a class in session? Wouldn't that be a treat! Alas, no. Instead it was a cross stitch group, sitting around working on projects. They seemed to be enjoying themselves, but wouldn't let me take a picture. So I grabbed a close-up of the window on my way out, so you can see the type of work they do. As you can see, there is both cross-stitch and quilting projects in the window. Hey there is always, more than one way to skin a cat :-). (No animals affected.)


The shop had more cross stitch than quilting supplies, in fact, it only had one little display of Mettler thread and about (3) floor to ceiling shelves of fabric. Everything else was cross stitch. But of course, I found something to bring home from Geneve. Don't know why... these (2) 1-meter peices cost me $54!!!! and one was a Moda Marble. Guess I will ask about prices next time, I don't see them marked on the bolt! But, I think they will go nice as pillow covers for Raven's sofa. The pillows that came with her sofa really are not her style.

Of course, there is a quilt show starting 3 days after I head home... of well can't have everything. I did ask the owner if there were other patchwork shops in the area and she said no. So I asked where the local quilters get their fabric from... hey, this is home to Bernina. Guess what her answer was.... the internet!@!@! Even with the shipping charges, fabric is cheaper in the US, than in Switzerland, because it is almost all imported. Of well, quess we really do have it better in the good 'ole USA.

Off to Yvoire, France for the day tomorrow, since everything other than restaurants are closed on Sunday in Geneve... not even one museum is open. Hmm... wonder what I can find on google for Yvoire? I know I have found an interesting shop in Zurich.. just don't know if I will have any time. Hey, I am there for work :-)

7 comments:

Jackie's Stitches said...

$54! Yikes!

It's surprising that fabric is most often ordered online in Switzerland.

Unknown said...

Thanks for posting this! I've been going kind of nuts trying to find good quilting fabric in Geneva.

Renee said...

You are welcome Lauren. Are you from the Geneva area? What type of quilting do you do? I have to admit, I was shocked by the lack of quilt shops given Bernina is a Swiss based company :-). Where do you buy your fabric?

Terrie said...

Thanks for this info. I just googled fabric/Geneva/Switzerland, as I am here for two weeks and thought I'd bring some fabric home and make a nice "Swiss" quilt. Hmm, after reading this, maybe I won't be so lucky. I'll let you know if I find something. Someone told me that Manors has fabric.

Terrie said...

Thanks for this info. I just googled fabric/Geneva/Switzerland, as I am here for two weeks and thought I'd bring some fabric home and make a nice "Swiss" quilt. Hmm, after reading this, maybe I won't be so lucky. I'll let you know if I find something. Someone told me that Manors has fabric.

Claudine said...

Fabric can be found in most big department stores, Manor being one of them. There is also a little sewing store on the other side of the lake on Rue du Port. I am interested in quilting lessons, since I would like to start but have never done it. Any suggestions?

Renee said...

Hi Claudine... I did visit some of the department stores and to be honest, fabric just doesn't equal 'quilting fabric', at least not in the minds of most hardcore quilters here in the states :-). I will have to check out the sewing store the next time I am in Geneva.

Here in the states, the local quilt shops do a great job of holding beginning quilting classes. Another place to start is the local quilting guilds. I don't read Swiss, but when I Googled quilting resources in Switzerland I get this link: http://www.patchquilt.ch/ . Try it out, and see what you might find.

Good-luck!