The Bon Marche department store has a wonderful yarn department. My sister is a major knitter and I always buy her yarn from the store.

You can knit at Breantano's on Avenue de l'Opera - one day a week or so -and other places in Paris. Ask Brentano's.

I like Chamaille near Marche St Pierre for yarn, and Any Blatt on rue des Francs Bourgeois and also the Bon Marche as well as la Mercerie near St Eustache. I am bad about addresses, I just know how to go there.

Le Printemps also has a decent yarn area on the 7th floor of Printemps maison.

There are lots of good craft departments and small stores in Paris!

I do needlepoint and counted cross stitch! I do it in the park and when I sit in a cafe sipping coffee and watching people.

It is really no different than reading a paper and watching people.

Have fun. It is a conversation starter!

I was knitting a baby blanket in the cafe just this morning. It is not a trend here like it is int eh US and England. Many Parisienne would not be caught dead knitting in public, as it reminds the men of their grandmas and is considered very un-sexy. That said, the Moms at the local park all know how to knit and had a lot of fun teaching me last spring.

I once saw a guy assembling a plastic model airplane at sidewalk café table--parts, glue, instructions, coffee, pastry, all laid out quite neatly on the tiny little table---so knitting a scarf will be no big deal.

Thanks for the input!

Every winter you can find me knitting around Paris and it's no problem, so knit till your heart's content. I buy my wool either in Printemps the big department store or at another shop very close to St Lazare train station......unfortunately I don't remember the name of that one.

The knitting market is pretty much 'stiched up' (pun intentded!) by a company called 'Phildar' who sell Yarns, needles etc. but also pattern magazines and pre-made garments. I know that the knitting section in BHV is a Phildar outlet so I wouldn't be suprised if you found the same in the other big shops.

I've seen someone knitting a couple of times on the metro but more often it's been people crochet-ing. I don't think anyone would look at you askance if you got your needles out. (I wouldn't try taking in them in your hand luggage on the plane tho' !)

YES! I am sure Bon Marche will sell wool/yarn etc my nanna loves that shop! They sell all sorts in there.

I am sure most of the cafes won't mind you knitting and if they do have a problem with it they can only ask you to leave or put it away can't they? It's not as though you are breaking the law.

The Bon Marche is not a Phildor store. It belongs to La Drugerie and haas Amy Blatt, as well as many other brands. As for knitting needles, I hve consistantly been told this is not a problem. I didn't want to think of loosing my work, so I bought the Japanese bamboo needles that are certifiably NOT a problem.