• My Courses
  • Update My Account
  • Basket
  • Checkout
  • Calendar
  • Nav Social Menu

    • E-mail
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube

Beautiful Things HQ

Sewing and Craft Classes in Brentwood, Essex

  • Home
  • Classes
    • Calendar
    • Online Courses
      • Craft
      • Crochet
      • Sewing
    • In-Person Classes
      • Craft Classes
      • Crochet & knitting Classes
      • Dressmaking Classes
      • Kids Classes
      • One2One Lessons
      • Sewing Classes
    • Events, Groups & Free Classes
  • Vouchers & gifts
  • Fabric Shop
    • NEW IN
    • Christmas Fabrics
    • Cotton
    • Jersey
    • Interfacings and Stabilisers
    • Remnants
    • Haberdashery
    • Patterns
    • Dressmaking Fabrics
  • Blog
  • About
    • Visiting BTHQ
    • FAQs
  • Contact

What sewing equipment do I really need?

When you first start any new hobby it can be really easy to feel totally daunted by the options available to you.

Some people feel like they need to buy absolutely everything before they get started and others worry that they need lots of things, but have limited funds to get started.

Glass headed pins

To help you make a decision on what to buy we have written the following guide of things that are ‘Essential to have’, ‘Nice to have’ and ‘A treat to have’

Most of these items are available to buy from our shop shelf at Beautiful Things Headquarters so you can pick them up when you come to class but if you are unable to make it to the shop we have included clickable links to all the items mentioned.

(These are affiliate links and whilst it costs you no more to purchase via them we will earn a small commission for recommending you).

Essential Items

Fabric scissors

Pins

Tape measure

Stitch ripper

thread

Sewing machine needles & Bobbins

Sewing machine (mechanical domestic model) – As a studio we recommend Janome machines as our machine of choice but thats not to say other makes and models are not just as good.  If you choose to buy from the link below that is fabulous, however we do have a deal with Sewing Machines Direct. Choose any machine on their website and contact them directly, mention Beautiful Things and you will receive a further discount on the advertised price.  Should you purchase please let us know what you have bought as the company offers us a commission on all sales (at no cost to you).  We choose to pass this commission onto MIND the mental health charity.

Nice to have

Rotary cutter

Cutting mat (basic A3)

Quilting ruler

Quilting clips

Pin magnet

Sewing machine (computerised domestic model CXL301 listed here is the same machine we use in our studio for classes) – As a studio we recommend Janome machines as our machine of choice but thats not to say other makes and models are not just as good.  If you choose to buy from the link below that is fabulous, however we do have a deal with Sewing Machines Direct. Choose any machine on their website and contact them directly, mention Beautiful Things and you will receive a further discount on the advertised price. (Cxl301 are currently approx £299) Should you purchase please let us know what you have bought as the company offers us a commission on all sales (at no cost to you).  We choose to pass this commission onto MIND the mental health charity.

Treats

Cutting mat (coloured A1)

Rose gold fabric scissors

Sewing machine (higher end computerised model with cut functions, extendable table for quilting and knee lifts for dressmaking) – Sewing machine (computerised domestic model DSK100 listed here is the same machine that Claire has at home) – As a studio we recommend Janome machines as our machine of choice but thats not to say other makes and models are not just as good.  If you choose to buy from the link below that is fabulous, however we do have a deal with Sewing Machines Direct. Choose any machine on their website and contact them directly, mention Beautiful Things and you will receive a further discount on the advertised price. (Cxl301 are currently approx £299) Should you purchase please let us know what you have bought as the company offers us a commission on all sales (at no cost to you).  We choose to pass this commission onto MIND the mental health charity.

Zips – I love to buy zips in bulk. I always buy 20″ and then I can cut them down to whatever size I need

Previous Post: « Understanding Front Post & Back Post Treble crochet (fptr & bptr) | CROCHET
Next Post: Top stitching, when & how | Claires Top Tips | SEWING »

Primary Sidebar

Join our mailing list

Subscribe

* indicates required

So you want to:

  • Learn to sew?
  • Learn to crochet?
  • Learn to knit?
  • Make your own clothes?
  • Learn a new craft?

Footer

BTHQ on Instagram

beautifulthingshq

Look at this stunning table runner Alison has been Look at this stunning table runner Alison has been working on at BTHQ over the last few days.

We just love the colours and how she's tried out all of the embroidery stutches on the @janomeuk DKS100SE machine.

This class is available to book in the studio over 2 days or 4 half days and is coming out as an online workshop for next year!!!

Platinum members of our VIP sewing club will get it this summer!!
Laura & Wendy will be twinning on their way to wor Laura & Wendy will be twinning on their way to work in these fabulous @sewoveritlondon Eve dresses

Made against the recommendation of a woven fabric (ssshhhh) in cotton jersey from our shop.
Purchase any plain cotton jersey and a patterned j Purchase any plain cotton jersey and a patterned jersey + order some A0 printing and we will throw in a free pack of stretch needles.
We had a lovely Heirloom Club this morning, but se We had a lovely Heirloom Club this morning, but seem to have done more talking than photography of our makes!
Freddie Fox is very pleased that he finally has an outfit underway, just need something special for his cravat
We've had another lovely fabric delivery and have We've had another lovely fabric delivery and have some fabulous new prints to share with you.

Join Claire LIVE on her YouTube channel at 11am on Wednesday 15th March when she will show you them all individually and make her pattern suggestions.
We have made the decision to no longer stock print We have made the decision to no longer stock printed patterns and focus on using our wonderful A0 printer (Colin the Canon).

We have a small stock of Tilly & The Buttons printed patterns in stock at the moment and have therefore reduced them all on the website by 25%

If you are a printed pattern fan and like a good old instruction book then grab yourself a bargain before they are all gone.

https://www.beautifulthingshq.com/product-category/fabric/patterns/
Would you like your own handmade holiday wardrobe Would you like your own handmade holiday wardrobe to rival Sandras? Join our free dressmaking journey challenge starting Monday 13th March and we can help you with a plan of action.
If you were not one of the lucky winners of our St If you were not one of the lucky winners of our Stitch Festival tickets but still want to go along, then we are pleased to be able to offer you a discount code:

BEAUTIFULTHINGS23

The discount is £2 off standard adult / concession tickets booked before 11.59pm Wednesday 22nd March 2023. Offer not valid on Sunday 26th March. Booking fee applies. 
 

*Save £2.00 on adult and concession tickets when quoting discount code at checkout. To purchase tickets, visit www.thestitchfestival.co.uk. Not valid on child, VIP or group tickets and cannot be used on Sunday 26th March. £3.50 transaction fee applies per e-ticket order (for any number of e-tickets purchased), and a £3.95 transaction fee applies per postal ticket order. T&Cs apply. Discount expires 11:59pm 22nd March.
If you are like me and have an ever growing 'colle If you are like me and have an ever growing 'collection' of fabric then why not release it from the shelf and turn it into something?

The perfect opportunity for it's release is to book a day or two at our BTHQ retreat in May.  Time dedicated purely to crafting and no external distractions.

Holiday Inn Brentwood 13th & 14th May 2023
CONGRATULATIONS We've drawn our winners for the S CONGRATULATIONS

We've drawn our winners for the Stitch Festival tickets. 

Katie Cope, Wendy Murphy, Donna White, Jane Richardson (facebook) and essex_girl_knits (Insta)

Please get in touch via email to beautifulthingshq@gmail.com to claim your tickets.  You must be able to attend on one of the days that the show is open and will be allocated 2 tickets each so you can bring a friend.
This is my final holiday post, it’s a stretch ve This is my final holiday post, it’s a stretch version of the Sew Over It Eve dress. Thanks so much to my sister Julie for taking loads of photos (and it was great fun!)
If you would like to build up your holiday/summer wardrobe then give us a call/email/message or head to BTHQ and we can help you get started!
Todays holiday outfit is the Sirocco jumpsuit by D Todays holiday outfit is the Sirocco jumpsuit by Deer and Doe. When Claire picked this pattern for her #sewoutofmycomfortzone I decided to take the leap too - and I love it!!!
Load More Follow on Instagram

Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Deliveries & Returns | Visiting BTHQ | Contact Us

Copyright Claire Mackaness © 2023 · Website built with Divine Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in