Folks: apologies for a delay in publishing my latest newsletter. I will endeavor not to let it happen again!
If you’re reading this and you’re not a knitter - fear not! It’s possible someone in your family knits.
If you don’t know much about French history, knitters played a big part in the French Revolution. The verb ‘to knit’ is tricoter in France, so the movement of women knitters who helped influence the Revolution were known as les tricoteuses. They were angry at food shortages and high prices, so they unleashed a fury on Versailles and became well known for it. It was said some of them would gather to knit by the guillotines while people’s heads were being chopped off. As Charles Dickens wrote in A Tale of Two Cities: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”
Knitting runs in my family. So as the cold set in during the winter of 2022, I felt the urge to buy some yarn and needles and start knitting. My ability is not very impressive; I can only do scarves at this point. So when I looked up knitting shops in Paris, I was delighted to discover there was a charming one right around the corner from my apartment, on rue Monge, called une maille à l’endroit…
I went inside the shop, saying the typical “bonjour!” and then I asked the shopkeeper, “What’s the verb for—” with my hands mimicking knitting. “Tricoter,” the shop owner replied. With her help, I bought some new needles and some nice yarn and went back home to knit. (There is no photo… it wasn’t the greatest scarf.)
There are a number of knitting shops in Paris. One of them is called Lil Weasel. Even if you don’t need any knitting supplies, it’s worth going over there because it’s inside one of the iconic passages, or covered shopping galeries. The shop features two separate storefronts across the passage from each other.
Now, I don’t really see the French as big knitters, generally, though I could be wrong. My impression is it doesn’t seem quite as typical among younger people compared to other countries like Denmark, for example. (I went to a coffee shop in Denmark last year with my knitting and next to me was a young lady also knitting!)
That being said, all is not lost.
If you want to go exploring for knitting shops in Paris, why not start here:
Lil Weasel - an adorable place that sells yarn and fabric in Passage du Grand Cerf in the 2nd arrondisement.
une maille à l’endroit - located on rue Monge, this adorable little corner shop sells all kinds of yarn and has classes.
Les Tricoteurs Volants - located in the 10th arrondisement, this place looks to have quite an array of yarn and knitting tools. I have not yet visited.
Wisp - Wild and Wicked Woolies - started by an Irish woman in Paris, this shop is also located in the 10th arrondisement and sells yarn with little knitting kits and offers workshops. I have also not yet visited this one.
Happy knitting!
If you’re interested, you can read more about the tricoteuses during the French Revolution here.