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Beautiful Things HQ

Sewing and Craft Classes in Brentwood, Essex

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A trip to the Goldhawk Road

Yesterday I went on a F.A.R.T (Fabric Aquisition Roadtrip) with Elspeth.

For the past 2 years we have been reading all about the wonders of the Goldhawk Road in West London and we thought it was time to check it out.

I chose a Saturday as I decided to drive, meaning we could buy as much as we liked without fear of heavy bags on the train.  There is no congestion charge on a Saturday so for two of us to travel it was also more cost effective.

It took just over an hour to get there from Brentwood. Sat Nav kindly took me all the way round on the M25 and cut me into London just near Heathrow.  I would imagine on a weekday the journey would be horrific if you fancy trying it though.  We parked in the local shopping centre just behind Morrisons for £9 for the day.  During the week it is a lot more expensive so another reason to head in at the weekend.

We started on the right hand side of the road looking up towards Goldhawk Road train station (where the bridge is in the distance).  The 1st shop is a really lovely shop with floor to ceiling fabrics.  It has loads of luxury silks and linens as well as plenty of printed cottons.  Prices in here are fairly standard for the basics and then go up a bit for the more luxurious fabrics.

A bit further along is Fabrix a great shop for your linings, ponte, jersey, felt, lining cottons and all the basics.  They also own the next door shop which has your slightly more luxurious basics.  We visited this shop right at the end of the day to buy all our linings and bits for the patterns we had decided to make.

Another of my favourites also on the right is Classic Textiles.  This place is a bit of an Aladdins cave with 3 storeys of fabric, thin little corridors and it’s all a bit of a squish but you can get all sorts of wonderful fabrics in here and the staff are really helpful.  I bought my crepe jersey & luminous sweatshirt fabric in here (see my video for my full haul).

A1 fabrics is the last shop on the right and is great for cottons, some lovely plain boiled wools and beautiful shimmery fabrics for dancewear and costumes.  I bought my rose print trouser cotton in here.

Next to the railway bridge is the market.  We had a lovely street food lunch of falafel and chicken wraps here and wandered in to find the haberdashery stalls to stock up on zips and thread.

After lunch we crossed over and came back down the other side of the road.  There is another 7 or 8 shops on this side and I’m not sure whether I had fabric overload, lunchtime sleepy-ness or if they just were not as good but I didn’t find anywhere near as much of a nice haul on this side.  There is a lot more Asian fabrics, beautiful lace and stunning bead work with lots of African wax cottons etc on this side but there are a few beauties hidden away.  It was on this side I picked up my lovely coat wool and Elspeth bought some fabulous printed linen.

All in all we spent 5 hours fabric shopping in approx 15 shops!  We had aching hands from our bags and between us spent just under £200 but I think we will have 11 garments to show for it when we have finished!

I can highly recommend a trip but if your making a special trip do take your patterns with you so you have an idea what you are buying for.  If you don’t I could easily see it being a bit of a mind blow and you will either end up buying nothing or buying everything!

On the way home SatNav took us a different way and we realised it is a stones throw from Westfield. Next time I may consider parking here and leaving the kids at Kidzania.  I can combine being a fab mummy with a fabric shop which is always good!

Make sure you follow our blog and subscribe to our You Tube channel to see my makes as they start to appear.

Previous Post: « Baby blanket Ta Da!
Next Post: Clearing out my fabric stash »

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Its payday and we've added heaps of new stock to o Its payday and we've added heaps of new stock to our shop. Colourful bright quilting cottons. Beautifully soft viscose wovens and jersey and some Frida Kahlo canvas too!!

Shipping is flat rate to the UK or you can click and collect from the store. Alternatively, pop down and stroke it in person. BTHQ is open 10 till 4 today.
Today we are delighted to be introducing a new cha Today we are delighted to be introducing a new challenge to you that is free to join in with.  We hope it will encourage you to try something new.

The 'Sew out of your comfort zone challenge' is designed to encourage you to create something that you wouldn't normally try, or to venture into a new sewing territory.

Maybe there is a pattern you think just wont suit you, but you've seen lots of other people making it and are tempted to give it a try.  Maybe there is a new technique you've always wanted to have a go at but have been to scared to try.  You might have been sewing for years but have never tried a particular fabric or method before.

Sandra has always avoided the Tilly & The Buttons Indigo dress as it has soooo much gathering and she thought it would not be all that flattering.  But she's seen me wearing my many versions and has now decided to give it a go.

I have made lots of jumpsuits but have never worked with Scuba before or a Deer and Doe pattern so I'm giving it a go for the first time.

Join us during Februrary and pick something that pushes you out of your comfort zone.  Be sure to post your progress on social media using the hashtag #sewoutofmycomfortzone and we can all hold your hand in the process.
We had an amazing busy day in BTHQ making hats…I We had an amazing busy day in BTHQ making hats…I mean Closet Core poufs! 😂
We will be live on our YouTube channel at 12.30 to We will be live on our YouTube channel at 12.30 today showing you all of the beautiful fabrics we now have in stock. Link in our stories
Ooooh have we had a fun day today!! This is just h Ooooh have we had a fun day today!! This is just half of our new stock. We can't wait to share it with you in the next couple of days.
Hi it’s Sandra. I’ve finished my first project Hi it’s Sandra. I’ve finished my first project on my #makenine2023 list. It’s the Atlas Bag by Swoon patterns. It looks so pretty but I don’t like it! I used a vinyl that I realised I didn’t have enough of, so lined the straps in cotton, but don’t like that they are then facing upwards with the lining.
The straps are also ridiculously  long. The bag is much too wide for my shoulders so isn’t comfortable to wear. Never mind, good reason to try another pattern!
We had a great session this morning learning to ma We had a great session this morning learning to make Roman Blinds. Everyone is always amazed at how very simple they are to make and how many super sewing tricks they learn in this class.
We welcomed back our beginner sewers tonight for a We welcomed back our beginner sewers tonight for a new term. More fabulous quilted boxes whizzed up in their 1st session.
We've just had an exciting delivery. All new class We've just had an exciting delivery. All new classroom machines for our workshop. Now you can try before you buy across the range of Janomes computerised machines.
@sew59sandra is very happy today. She's treated h @sew59sandra is very happy today. She's  treated herself to the Atelier 6 sewing machine from Janome. It's currently on special offer until Feb 9th and includes a free quilting kit.
We still have 2 places left on this fabulous cours We still have 2 places left on this fabulous course this Saturday.  Claire will be showing you how to make something wonderful from your scrap fabrics using the Creative Grids Scrap Crazy templates. 

Not only is this a great scrap project you can also create beautiful planned quilts from fabric bought specifically for your own designs.  The templates are so versatile that they can be used to seamlessly create beautiful designs.  Come and enjoy the magic as Claire talks you through lots of different options and leave the class with your own set of templates to play with at home worth £29.99!!
It may be disgusting outside, but inside the kettl It may be disgusting outside, but inside the kettle is always on, and there is always room on our couch or craft table for you to pop on for a chat or a bit of knitting or crochet.

There's no need to book. Just come on down. We are open 10 till 4. Free of charge, just pop a donation in the tin for your drinks.
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