Road trips are fun. Road trips that involve fabric stores are even better! Recently I headed into the Indianapolis area and The French Seam, where I spent a fun afternoon shopping and talking all things sewing.
The Shop
I found The French Seam easily on-line, and the directions and store info were all up to date. The location of this store is near a major shopping area and conveniently right off the I-69 highway- so super easy to find and get to.
The French Seam is not a huge shop; however, it is an essential stop for anyone that loves sewing and appreciates exceptional quality. They have cultivated a beautiful collection of fabrics for apparel and quilting projects, and also a good selection of indy patterns and fundamental notions. New to the shop this spring is offerings from Merchant & Mills, including their patterns, notions, and even fabrics! The shop organization is easy to follow with fabric beautifully displayed by type and color, complete with sewn samples of favorite indy pattern designs.
Additional Assets
Something unique that I have never seen before is the consignment area. I love this idea! We all have fabric at home that is not going to get sewn, so why not offer it up on consignment? I took advantage by picking up some beautiful pink charmeuse at an incredible price.
This store also has a large classroom area and offers sewing instruction for all levels. One of the teachers was working on class content while I was there and we had a great discussion about upcoming classes and pattern selections. His knowledge of the sewing industry & garment construction was evident and it made me wish I lived closer to attend some of their regularly scheduled classes.
Summary
The owner of the store was present and it was immediately obvious that she not only loved sewing, but also her valued customers. She was knowledgeable about everything in the store and more than happy to share information on pattern and fabric selections. The French Seam should be considered a must-stop destination if you are ever in the Indianapolis area- I also hope to make it back there soon!
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