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Denise
Warming Up
70 Posts |
 Posted - 10/21/2004 : 09:32:32 AM
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I am going to Paris for Christmas this year. I've looked up locations of yarn shops and hope to visit at least one of them, daughter and husband willing. But what yarns should I keep an eye out for? Is Colinette available in France? It's much less expensive in England than it is here; is it avaiable in France also, is it approximately the same cost as in England?
So what fiber would you bring back as a souvenir? |
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MissPooh
Angel
USA
640 Posts |
Posted - 10/21/2004 : 10:08:09 AM
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My advice, for what it is worth, is: Don't go over with a specific purchase in mind. See what is available and let your eyes, heart, hands, and pocketbook tell you what to get. If you go over with something specific in mind, and spend time looking for it, you may miss out on something truly special.
Have a great time and wonderful trip to Paris.
Mary Lou |
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RoseM
Permanent Resident
Canada
1898 Posts |
Posted - 10/21/2004 : 10:11:27 AM
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Oh la la, Denise!
Je suis verte avec envy  ! If it were me (and I hope it will be next year, but probably 2006) I'd bring back some luxury fibre - maybe cashmere - to knit myself a scarf that would always remind me of Paris at Christmastime when I put it on.
Is it your first visit? Where are you staying?
Please pass on the names of the yarn shops you've found.
RoseM
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knittin away
Seriously Hooked
880 Posts |
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Hello Knitty
Permanent Resident
1069 Posts |
Posted - 10/21/2004 : 10:20:43 AM
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www.skinnyrabbit.com is also a blogger in Paris. I'd recommend visiting a branch of La Drogerie and definitely a Phildar store. www.phildar.com
I agree, see what's there but don't have a specific item in mind. I'd clean out the Phildar store if I were there!! |
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Denise
Warming Up
70 Posts |
Posted - 10/21/2004 : 10:40:43 AM
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Thanks for all the quick answers.
RoseM, this will be my fifth trip to France, but the first one I've taken in the winter or since I started to knit (thus the yarn question). We are lucky enough to be staying near Chantilly with my daughter's Godparents and then in Paris with some family friends. Rose, will your planned trip be your first?
I wasn't really looking for anything specific but just didn't want to buy something there that's easy to get here. I've emailed with Kate Gilbert and will contact the others. Thanks again.
Denise |
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GFTC
Permanent Resident
USA
6331 Posts |
Posted - 10/21/2004 : 10:51:33 AM
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| Don't forget to look at interesting knitting needles and gadgets. They may have things that we haven't seen in our shops. |
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mokey
Permanent Resident
15302 Posts |
Posted - 10/21/2004 : 11:15:10 AM
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I would email Colinette to find out if they have French stockists. Even if they don't you can always order from one EU nation to another without paying duties. Colinette is cheaper in the EU than here, so if you must have it, order ahead of time and ship to where you are staying.
"There is no beauty in the finest cloth if it makes hunger and unhappiness." Gandhi |
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becky_dm
New Pal
France
11 Posts |
Posted - 10/21/2004 : 12:34:28 PM
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Hello! Just a clarification:
I live in Lyon, not Paris.
Best wishes,
Becky
skinnyrabbit.com
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Laura Ver
Seriously Hooked
656 Posts |
Posted - 10/21/2004 : 4:43:38 PM
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I don't think you will find Colinette in France. You will probably find some Rowan yarn if you check out the needlework floor at Le Bon Marche dept. store in Paris, but given how high the British pound is in relation to the Euro, and how high the Euro to the US $,be prepared for steep prices.
I was in Paris in June and bought some lovely yarn at La Droguerie. Their selection of alpaca is beautiful. Their own patterns are great but they are only sold in kits. The one exception is a book of baby sweater patterns, really lovely (but all in French).
The best stuff to bring back from France would be buttons, ribbons(la Droguerie has a fantastic selection of both), maybe some good embroidery scissors... but for yarn and patterns the pickings have been awfully slim these last few years. Bon voyage!
Laura |
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RoseM
Permanent Resident
Canada
1898 Posts |
Posted - 10/21/2004 : 5:42:37 PM
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Hi again Denise,
This will be our 3rd trip - we're hoping to have perhaps a month in France; with perhaps 3wks in Paris. And like you, it will be my first trip back since rediscovering knitting!
RoseM |
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FROGDANDY410
Chatty Knitter
United Kingdom
178 Posts |
Posted - 10/22/2004 : 04:58:52 AM
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| A visit to le Bon Marche on the left bank is worth it. they have a la droguerie franchise and stock all manners of french , european and Rowan yarns. |
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Sabrina Fair
Seriously Hooked
United Kingdom
635 Posts |
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RoseM
Permanent Resident
Canada
1898 Posts |
Posted - 10/22/2004 : 10:07:49 AM
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Maybe recheck airline regulations regarding bringing needles on the plane - also keep in mind if you see fancy scissors that you like.
Both are regularly taken out of luggage here (Canada) but Denise interchangeable needles are ok. Addis no.
RoseM |
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mokey
Permanent Resident
15302 Posts |
Posted - 10/22/2004 : 10:43:57 AM
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Rose I only use Addis and have no probs flying within Canada, but my mum did with her straights. Scissors are definite no nos in my experience.
"There is no beauty in the finest cloth if it makes hunger and unhappiness." Gandhi |
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RoseM
Permanent Resident
Canada
1898 Posts |
Posted - 10/22/2004 : 12:01:07 PM
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Mokey - makes me wonder if sometimes it depends on the airline person checking -- whether they're having a good day, if they're clear on the regulations, etc. And as you know, those Addis are lethal . . . LOL.
RoseM |
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mokey
Permanent Resident
15302 Posts |
Posted - 10/22/2004 : 12:17:11 PM
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I actually think the Addis(any circs) are more lethal because of the cord. Maybe to be on the safe side on future flights I'll just bring patterns or knitting books and prioritise what I have.
"There is no beauty in the finest cloth if it makes hunger and unhappiness." Gandhi |
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ClareNC
Permanent Resident
1233 Posts |
Posted - 10/22/2004 : 5:50:24 PM
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Why don't you, look for some Colinette yarn in England now and have it shipped to France, to your friends house? I done this with yarns I wanted from England and collected them all when I visited in July. Took one case inside another empty one to fit it all in, LOL
Clare |
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Laura Ver
Seriously Hooked
656 Posts |
Posted - 10/24/2004 : 3:09:41 PM
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I have heard of fellow knitters getting their needles confiscated at Charles de Gaulle airport when they were about to board flights back to the US, so I don't even take the chance these days. Much better to pack some good reading material and catch up in my reading. If you want/need to do something knitting-related en route, how about bringing some graph paper and color pencils to plan your future sweaters? Or a good knitting design book to study during the long flight?
Re: the Droguerie store at Bon Marche, I like it for buttons and other notions but when I checked two years ago, there was hardly any yarn on display there. The selection at their store rue du Jour was far superior. Beware, that store gets very crowded and service is slow. They suggest coming in the morning for faster service. Also, be prepared to order wool by weight (in grams). Only sample skeins are displayed: skeins are then wound for you in the back of the store, hence the sloooooowwwww service.
Laura |
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(hristinac
Permanent Resident
United Kingdom
6054 Posts |
Posted - 10/25/2004 : 12:44:10 AM
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The UK Knitters @ yahoo goups have been dissapointed that Colinette is rather hard to find in England !
Most of it apparantly goes to USA where the market is better for yarn .
There have been a few grumbles about this from Brits so do not expect to find it easy to find Colinette in the UK .
If you do you will be lucky because even the internet supplier shops have somewhat scarce or sporadic supplies only .
The best thing to do , if you order from the UK is to order one of those Grab bags/ bargain bags from Colinette direct ( www.colinette.com) & get it sent to your hotel in France if that is possible :(
(hristinac
Always guilty of reading too many knitting blogs , surfing the web too much , clicking on far too many links .
:(
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Sabrina Fair
Seriously Hooked
United Kingdom
635 Posts |
Posted - 10/29/2004 : 01:35:10 AM
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I am flying to Germany next week from the UK. I have already had my knitting confiscated on flight and returned at the end within the UK. For this flight I intend taking bamboo dpns and knitting the cuff of the sweater in the round.
This way I can afford to loose the needles and if the work suffers from removing the needles I will only have lost the beginning.
Sabrina |
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