SEWING

The fabrics for sewing, clothes and furnishings:

The Sajou fabrics and Toiles de Jouy:

The Sajou fabrics are designed by Frederique Crestin-Billet, the founder of Maison Sajou. She has many varied sources: her own personal collection of vintage haberdashery, and her research into different fabrics whilst creating the Museums and Heritage collection of embroidery projects. Most of the fabrics come with a main motif and one, two or three matching coordinates. You are bound to find something to spike your creativity.

We have also updated or reinterpreted some of the famous Toile de Jouy motifs to make them adaptable to sewing. In the past, Toiles de Jouy were often furnishings fabrics with large motifs destined to cover walls from floor to ceiling. To be able to use the same motifs today, the designs have been adapted and reduced. The Maison Sajou Toiles de Jouy are available by the metre or in swatches, slightly larger than a fat quarter. This is a great format for smaller projects without having to invest in whole metres of fabric. It is also great for patchwork as it enables buying lots of smaller cuts and have more variety in projects. All the Sajou fabrics and Toiles de Jouy are 150cm wide when bought by the metre. We also have gift boxes with fabric swatches, some with toning sewing threads.

Sajou fabrics certified Oeko-Tex:

Our fabrics are certified Oeko-Tex. This somewhat barbaric formula signifies that our fabrics and Toiles de Jouy are produced in compliance with environmental standards and present no danger to human health.

Sajou coated cotton fabrics:

Some of our fabrics and Toiles de Jouy are available in coated cotton swatches. They are very easy to clean as they can be wiped with a damp cloth. They can be used for making make up bags, tote bags or table mats. If you need a larger size, you can contact us. Our coated cotton fabrics are covered with a fine coat of matt PVC which makes them easy for machine sewing.

Indienne fabrics by the metre or in swatches:

Indienne is a generic term given to the multitude of floral fabrics which were imported into Europe from the end of the 17th century by means of the different East India Trading companies. Representing exotic flowers previously unknown in Europe, a continent that didn’t yet know how to make or print cotton fabrics, they were tremendously successful. The recent trend for vibrant interiors has brought them back into popularity. Our indienne fabrics are 110cm wide, compared with 150cm for fabrics from the Sajou collection. As a consequence, the swatches are slightly smaller (50 x 55cm). Available in a large range of colours, these indienne fabrics are perfect for curtains, cushions, quilts and patchwork. However, we would not recommend covering chairs with them unless those chairs are purely decorative. Indienne fabrics are also marvellous for making clothes, they are particularly popular in France for making Provencal style costumes. We have also had fun interpreting some motifs in cross stitch, you can find them in our section dedicated to embroidery.

Boiled wool swatches:

We love the natural fibre that is boiled wool. It is a great thickness for making cushions, giving them great stability. We use this to make cushions from our tapestry projects, the density being in concordance with the canvas.

Ribbons and bias binding:

All the products in our narrow fabrics range are originals created especially for Maison Sajou We strive to source our products in the historical regions of their production, as with our ribbons which are made in Saint Etienne. Our ribbons are available in different collections and their popularity goes from strength to strength.

Bias binding:

Our bias bindings are made in a vintage atelier right in the heart of Paris, long known for their collaborations with many fashion brands, from ready-to-wear to haute couture. Ours is already double folded, making it easy to work with. No fastidious folding and pressing. They are coordinated with our Sajou fabrics and there are a few matching our indiennes. It’s up to you to choose whether you want to mix or match!

Twill ribbons with our fabric prints:

The latest baby in the Sajou family. These ribbons are printed with motifs from the Sajou collection of fabrics in miniature and are great either mixed or matched. They are printed on twill, which has a sort of chevron effect and a bit of depth. They are made of polyester so a bit of care is needed if ironing.

Collection Couture ribbons:

These are gorgeous ribbons made of cotton which are woven in a very old company which works mainly for haute couture houses. The looms are made of wood and an assortment of motifs are woven at the same time, just like in the 19th century. These ribbons are decorated with polka dots, flowers, Eiffel Towers, but also with classic haberdashery items like scissors, thimbles and spools of thread.

Household Linen collection of ribbons:

This collection is one of the first best-selling items at Maison Sajou. All marked in French, you have the choice between Parents, Atelier, Bedroom, Washbasin, Hand Towel but also Hand Made and Home Made. These ribbons were inspired by the bourgeois homes of days gone by where household linen was always clearly identified. An orderly home is a happy home!

The Sajou Comptoir collection:

These are lovely little woven polyester ribbons either with small repetitive motifs or with names of haberdasheries of days gone by: Ladies of France, The Peking Palace, The National Flag – the essence of the past.

Sajou scissors for sewing and embroidery:

It is essential to have the right pair of scissors for dressmaking for cutting fabrics. They should not be too small and their cutting edge should be irreproachable. Embroidery scissors are too small to correctly cut through large pieces of fabric. Find out all the details about our dressmaking scissors in our Embroidery and dressmaking scissors section.

Sajou complete sewing sets:

One of the iconic products at Maison Sajou, the sewing sets are available in different versions. The style and contents vary, so it is a question of personal choice. Regardless, they contain all the essential accessories for small sewing repairs: a pair of scissors, a thimble, a tape measure, a seam ripper, sewing pins and needles, sewing thread and cards for bits of ribbons or threads. Some versions come with tacking thread or dressmakers chalk. They are the ideal starter kit. All the contents in our complete sewing sets are made in France.

Our wooden sewing items:

Tape measures:

Our collection of sewing items in wood is a step back in time to the sewing boxes of our grandmothers! Our small wooden tape measures contain ribbon measures woven especially for Maison Sajou. The inspiration came from small tape measures that were often found in the souvenir shops of Paris and spa towns. As with their honourable ancestors, these models are manually rewound. Even if their charm is indisputable, they can also be uses for small sewing jobs.

Wooden pin cushions and needle cases:

In the same spirit as our wooden tape measures, our little pin cushions have the barrel shape just like those of days gone by. They are covered with a 12 count linen, which is removable so you can embroider a small motif or initial, or even replace with a fabric of your choice. We recommend fixing the mousse disk with a touch of glue afterwards. Our needle cases, also in wood, contain different types of needles. You can choose between sewing needles, embroidery needles, darning needles, tapestry needles, oversewing needles or milliner needles. Their tube form is similar to those found in souvenir shops of yesteryear. See also our adorable pumpkin-shaped pin cushions, hand-made from Sajou fabrics.

Our thread cards:

In times past, the majority of sewing threads were presented on small cards where the image was discovered as the thread was used. But that was before. Before the popularity of the sewing machine and before the introduction of other threads than linen. The images became brand names and there were hundreds of brands all fighting to seduce their clients. As an avid collector, Frederique Crestin-Billet, the founder of Maison Sajou, revived this passion for thread cards and brought out numerous series, each containing 6 cards. Not only practical, this is a really elegant way to keep all your bits of thread tidy.

Read the article dedicated to Collectible Thread Cards in Madame Sajou’s Diary.
See also the Fil Au Chinois linen thread star cards, which still exist and remind us of this ancient custom.

Dressmaking needles and pins:

If there is a product that is essential for sewing, it would be high-quality needles and pins! Often overlooked until using a cheaper pin which bends and breaks or a needle that is unfit for purpose. All our needles and pins are made in France.

Dressmaking needles:

Our dressmaking and embroidery needles are presented in assortments, usually in stylish booklets with a wide choice of motifs. We also have specific needles for patchwork, appliqué and boutis, but also for darning, invisible mending, beading, felting, ribbon embroidery, milliners, as well as for leather work. You will find them all on our site. See our needles section and how to choose the right needle.

Dressmaking pins:

An essential for a perfect finish: solid pins adapted the fabric you are using. They are indispensable for preparing your project before tacking, fixing your pattern onto the fabric or hold two pieces together before sewing. A thick pin on a fine fabric is a catastrophe waiting to happen, too fine a pin on a thick cloth will prove to be totally inefficient. Obviously, all rusty or bent pins should be banned from your sewing set.

See our pins section and how to choose the right pin.

French haberdashery accessories:

Small travelling sewing sets, ribbon tape measures, needle threaders, bodkins, Decouvit brand seam rippers, wooden darning eggs, erasable pens for tracing motifs, tidy cards for ribbons, our haberdashery accessories section is a store in itself!

Press fasteners and buttons to cover:

Our press fasteners are either nickel-plated or black-coated and presented on little rip off cards like those found in haberdashery stores of days gone by. They are available in different sizes ranging from 6mm to 15.5 millimetres. Our metal buttons to cover also come in different sizes and can easily be covered with your favourite fabric or a small embroidery. There is no need for a specific tool – just cut the fabric to the right dimensions and click into place.

Haberdashery in metal tins:

Maison Sajou is committed not only to the quality of the haberdashery items they sell, but also to the style of presentation. No doubt you will fall in love with our accessories in these adorable little tins – mini cocoons of sewing thread, all types of different pins, travel sewing kits among others. The difficulty will be choosing your favourite among the gorgeous labels! Everything is made in France. The tins are made not far from Maison Sajou by a company who historically made them for Eclipse shoe polish – a monument in French culture!

Fil Au Chinois sewing thread:

Maison Sajou is the only place to offer the complete range of Fil Au Chinois sewing threads. You are sure to find the sewing thread that you need among our large choice, with also a choice of different quantities: cotton sewing thread on spools or cones, polyester sewing thread also on spools and cones, but also the cocoons that we put in our complete sewing sets. However, if you are looking for a specific thread, we have sewing threads for patchwork and quilting, the famous gloving thread, a whole range of metallized threads, variegated threads, silk, rayon and taking thread. Whatever your favourite needle work, sewing, embroidery or leather work, this is a one-stop shop for your threads.

You can find detailed explanations for Fil Au Chinois, Sajou and Lebaufil threads in our Sewing threads section.