I just got back from France, and I thought I would tell you about my visit to the DMC factory. I had called them before I left, and asked about a tour, but was told that was not possible. But the town we were at for the last week of our trip, Strasbourg, was only about 50 KM from Mulhouse, where the factory is. So my SO, humored me and off we went on an adventure. We got to Mulhouse with no idea of where the factory was, and Mulhose is the second biggest town in the Alsace region of France, the first is Strasbourg.

Going into town, we saw a sign for information, and found a "You Are Here" map, and we found DMC Avenue and the factory, now we just had to get there. One of the things we had learned during our brief stay in France, is street markers are not where you expect them, street names change frequently, and the roads are small and winding. With some help from some very nice people at the Pharmacy we found the factory. It is huge.

The security guard thought we were nuts, but let us in. A lady in reception reiterated that there were no tours, but showed us a 15 minute tape on how their products are made. The room we were in had all kinds of samples, and brochures, and a beautiful (this word isn’t big enough) tapestry that had been done for an anniversary. They gave me a brochure, that is in French. But the jist of it is that the company was first started in 1746 by Jean-Henri DOLLFUS, and in 1800 DILLFUS MIEG et Cie was born, Cie in French means Company. I was impressed, I never knew the initials stood for anything. The factory they are in today was built in 1822. If I remember correctly, either 2/3 or 3/4 of their output is exported from Europe.

Anyway, I could have looked all around the factory if allowed. My SO related it to a religious experience for me. Later, we were in a French deprtment store, Printemps (it means spring), and they had a craft section. One floss sold for 8.5 French Francs, that would be roughly $1.70 for 1floss. Never again will I complain about $.33 or $.28. I also found some books that were put out by DMC. One is a DMC Collection, and is flowers and fruit. It cost 34FF or $6.8. There were also several booklets with different little pictures all on a related theme. I bought one of those, and it is DMC Creation—Journeys. It has a picture of the Eiffel Tower, and it cost 13 FF or $2.60. They also had several books that were called Collection Musee. All of these were samplers that had been done in the 1800’s. I bought one called Bussai Josephine, it cost 60FF or $12. In fact, other than the DMC booklets, there were some Precious Moments booklets, but nothing by any other designer.

I hope you find this information interesting, as I had the best time discovering it.

Copyright © 1995/2000 by Patty Schmidt

Written for the purpose of informing and stimulating the creativity in other lovers of counted cross-stitch. Permission is granted to redistribute this article in its entirety for noncommercial use provided that this copyright notice is not removed or altered and that no portion of this work is sold either by itself or as part of a larger work without the express written permission of the author.