The cross stitch kits and patterns History of Maison Sajou

The inventor of cross stitch pattern charts

Jacques Simon Sajou was born on the 25th May 1805 into a family of wig and perfume merchants in Sens. He was twice widowed before moving to Paris, where he rapidly became one of the notable benefactors of the town. In 1840, he married Astasie Granger, daughter of the neo-classical artist Jean-Pierre Granger. In the same year, he published his first embroidery design, a Virgin Mother with baby Jesus. At this time, his place of work was rue Michel le Comte in the Marais district of Paris. After the Marais and a brief passage on the Ile de la Cité, Jacques Simon Sajou installed his offices in the newly constructed rue Rambuteau.
Even if he was not the only person in France to publish embroidery designs, Jacques Simon Sajou was the first to devote all his time, working with new printing techniques. He worked in collaboration with a number of French publications of the time, such as Conseiller des Dames and Le Moniteur des Dames et des Demoiselles. It is said that he met personally with subscribers a few days each month to share his ideas and suggestions.
His tenacity contributed to a significant reduction of the massive importation of “Berlin” tapestry patterns, aquarelle models which were extremely expensive. Thanks to his ingenuity, the price of his counted cross stitch patterns was significantly cheaper. He was, in some sorts, a benefactor for embroidery!

Cross stitch patterns rewarded at Universal Exhibitions

Outside of his business activities, Jacques Simon Sajou was a captain in the National Guard (he was decorated with the Legion of Honour in 1848) and deputy mayor of the 13th district of Paris, where he also had a factory in rue des Anglaises. He was on numerous committees for the great exhibitions of the time and was also one of the founder members of Central Union of Fine Arts Applied to Industry as well as his philanthropic works. He won many medals during the universal exhibitions for his cross stitch patterns and embroidery designs.
In 1864, Monsieur Sajou withdrew from his business affairs and left in charge his brother in law, Claude Marie Cabin, the husband of his wife’s sister.

Sajou moves to Boulevard Sébastopol

After more than thirty years on the rue Rambuteau, the House moved in 1882 to 74 Boulevard Sébastopol. Directed by the son of Claude Cabin, who was joined by his son in law Georges Lefèvre in 1885. In 1897, Maison Sajou was directed by Emmanuel Anglard, the son in law of Georges Lefèvre. He became the owner in 1902. With a rich military past, this energetic man was very involved in the great exhibitions and obtained many grand prizes for his cross stitch albums, notably in Milan (1906), Brussels (1910), London (1912) and Gent (1913).
In 1934, Maison Sajou moved to 53 rue de la Boétie in the 8th district. The company ceased to exist in 1954.

Maison Sajou is reborn in 2005

50 years of silence and, in November 2004, Frédérique Crestin-Billet, passionate about haberdashery collectibles, had the idea to register the trademark and in May 2005 the Sajou website was launched, offering only quality products made in France. A trade version of the website was launched at the end of 2014, the first of its kind for professionals!
If nowadays, having a commercial website is obvious, at the time we were the pioneers. In September 2013, we opened our Sajou Paris store in the heart of the textile industry in Paris. Unfortunately, Covid came along and the visitors from abroad and made up the majority of our clientele were no longer there so we regrettably had to close.
After a brief passage at Le Bon Marché department store, we decided our clients were better served by ourselves and we now welcome visitors at our head office in Versailles, just next to the Palace.

You can read the story of our large pattern chart in Madame Sajou’s Diary.
See how to visit us in Versailles.