Michelle, ma belle... tres bien ensemble
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Michelle ma belle, sont des mots qui vont très bien ensemble,

Tres bien ensemble

Paris: Sacre Coeur

10/19/2015

6 Comments

 
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One of the more touristy things we were sure to do while we were in Paris was climb to Sacre Coeur. I had heard the view of the city was worth the throngs of people. And, indeed, the view is spectacular. This area of the city wasn't particularly my favorite, since the surrounding blocks were brimming with souvenir shops and dense crowds, but it had its perks.   
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A large number of fabric shops can be found surrounding the base of Sacre Coeur. A lot of these shops are coupon shops, meaning that the fabric is pre-cut into 3m pieces. This method of fabric sales was a totally new concept to us. I guess 3m is a fairly average length of fabric to purchase, overall. But, the entire practice seems very wasteful to me. For instance, if I need 2meters or 4meters, I'm stuck with and paying for fabric that won't be used. And, despite our American understanding of the word coupon, there is no discount for the pre-cut lengths. Also, a  lot of the shops in this area carried identical inventory, which made it seem like there was a lot more to choose from than there actually was. I did buy one wool coating coupon while we were there, but, overall, I wasn't a fan.  
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We also, very briefly, stopped into a yarn store in this neighborhood. It's called Chatmaille, and it was the most bizarre yarn store I have EVER been to. There's a very strict NO TOUCHING policy. Seriously, there are signs in both French and English posted all over the place.  I felt like I was five walking through a China shop with my hands in my pockets. The space is small, and the yarn is tucked into cubbies on the wall. There are some knit samples that patrons are welcome to handle, but they don't appear to be knit from the same yarns displayed as inventory. It was strange. Really, strange. Do yourself a favor, if you're ever yarn shopping in Paris, and skip this shop. Or, go there just for the novelty, because it's truly an odd place.
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My favorite shop from our visit to Sacre Coeur is Dam Bouton. It's a wonderland of buttons! All the walls are shelved full of color coordinated button varieties from the most basic shirt buttons to the most elaborate rhinestone buttons you can imagine. 
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On this particular day, I was outfitted in another McCall's M6696 Shirtwaist dress. This version was sewn using an embroidered eyelet fabric I picked-up at Joann Fabrics. I underlined the dress in navy cotton. Based on the double layer of fabric, I had expected this version of the dress to be the most fitted version I made. Quite the opposite. I made the same changes to the bodice and used the same construction methods as I had on previous versions, yet this dress appears a size, maybe two bigger. I have no explanation why.  
6 Comments
Katherine
10/19/2015 10:33:39 am

Just to note - and I hate to be a nitpicky spelling fiend - but it should actually be Sacre Coeur (the "oe" is actually one "letter" in French. (also seen in oeuf i.e. egg)

(I spent 8 years in French Immersion and these things really stick out at me, I hope you don't mind!)

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Michelle link
10/19/2015 11:28:49 am

Thank you for the correction! I've changed it. :-D

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Heather link
10/19/2015 01:01:39 pm

What?! A yarn shop where you can't touch the yarn? That seems ridiculous! Your dress looks lovely - that colour looks fantastic on you!

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Sixer
10/20/2015 02:13:34 pm

Love the color combination of Kelly Green/ Navy.

I'm really enjoying this travel series, so I wanted to thank you for putting the effort into documenting it. Not only are the pictures beautiful and the descriptions swoon worthy, it's also really practical to think about how cloths will fit in with their intended environment. And of course, seeing your approach to wardrobe building in action is always a delight.

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Piper link
10/21/2015 06:26:23 am

You have sold me on this pattern! This is my favorite version yet. I like the looser fit on you. I have made multiples of a pattern before, and experienced the same phenomenon even when I cut them to exactly the same size. Of course there is the weight and the stretch to consider, but sometimes two cottons will fit differently. I am still trying to figure it out!
I was an exchange student in France and my family had to explain to me the etiquette of shopping in small stores. There is a set of rules for expected behavior, and we Americans are perceived in a negative light for not understanding how to behave in a civilized manner. I can imagine how a no touching rule might have evolved in a crowded tourist area. I am inferring that you may have been in a store that has been around for a hundred or more years. If you had seen a yarn you were interested in buying, you could have asked the salesperson to get it for you so that you could touch it. This seems strange from our cultural perspective, but think of it from a Parisian perspective. You go to the same store that your grandmother did for your yarn and you don't want yarn that a bunch of tourists have been pawing! You have been lucky to experience a bit of the real France.
I have been loving these posts, too. Thanks for taking all of us with you.

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Kate link
10/25/2015 07:41:11 pm

I love the dress! What a great colour combo. I have found the same issue with sizing - specifically with this dress since I have tried to make it fit fairly firmly. So I have a couple that are prefect and one that fits but it a closer, tighter fit than I was intending. My working theory is it's something with the weave of a particular cotton, and some sort of ease out as you're wearing them, like yarn blooming when it's blocked, or jeans easing out and then tightening up when you wash them. No idea if that's true or not! I had to come up with SOME reason for it or I'd go mad! :P

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