Welcome to the Craft Arena website!

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At Craft Arena we sell needlecraft, knitting, crochet, mixed media, craft supplies, Brother sewing machines, wool, threads, haberdashery, beads, craft books, gifts and textile art. You can access our online shop by clicking the Shop menu item above.

We have a wide range of Brother Sewing and Embroidery machines on demonstration, and offer a full personal consultation so that you can choose the right machine for you. We give FREE training on most machines.

We hold workshops and training classes in needlecraft, knitting, crochet, mixed media, printing and textile art design in our large workshop area. You can see details of upcoming workshops and training classes below or click here for a full list.

We showcase the work of local artists and design groups in frequently changing exhibitions in Alchemy, our dedicated Textile Art Gallery.

We publish a regular newsletter containing special offers, details of upcoming workshops and everything Craft Arena. If you would like to subscribe, simply click on the blue "Subscribe" icon above. Our newsletters are usually sent out weekly.

We look forward to seeing you in the studio soon.

Craft Arena is upstairs at the Barleylands Craft Village, Billericay, Essex, Studios 49 - 51. We are open 10am - 5pm Tuesday to Saturday, and 10am - 4pm Sundays and most Bank Holidays.

We either use or personally recommend the items we sell. If you have a specific requirement please contact us and we will do our best to help.

Workshops - coming soon

PE Design with Lisa - Sunday 18th August

Sunday, 18 August 2019 - 10:30am to 1:00pm

Join Lisa to learn more about using Brother PE Design Software. If you know the basics and wish to find out more, this class is for you. In this session Lisa will show you In The Hoop basics.

This class is for those who know the basics of PE Design software for Brother Embroidery machines.

Price: 
£35.00

Yarn Forward - Wednesday 21st August

Wednesday, 21 August 2019 - 10:30am to 1:00pm

Our regular Yarn Forward knitting and crochet group.

Bring your own yarn work along to knit or crochet and if you have any challenges, there will sure to be someone here who can help.

For complete beginners, and those who are a bit more experienced, you can work that yarn and chat at the same time, and you always leave with a free gift

Price: 
£10.00

Machine Embroidery Group - Sunday 1st September

Sunday, 1 September 2019 - 10:30am to 1:00pm

A series of informal monthly sessions to help you get the most from your embroidery machine.

In this session we will be working in the hoop

Price: 
£10.00

A Credence of Stitchers - Sunday 8th September

Sunday, 8 September 2019 - 10:30am to 1:00pm

Join our stitching group where you can stitch, chat and get a bit of advice if you need it!

Any type of hand embroidery is welcome.

You will receive a gift worth at least £5 when you attend, this will consist of hand embroidery related items - it may be threads, patterns or accessories or a combination of both.

In case you were wondering, Credence is a 15th Century collective noun for a number of stitchers!

Price: 
£10.00

Learn to Love your Overlocker with Jan Wright Friday 13th September

Friday, 13 September 2019 - 10:30am to 4:00pm

We're thrilled to welcome back Jan Wright from Babylock, this time showing you how to love your overlocker! Bring along your own overlocker (any make), or ask to borrow one of ours.

Have you bought an overlocker and have no idea what to do with it? Maybe you can use it to overlock the raw edges of your sewing but that's about it?
An overlocker can be a scary beast and threading them can seem like a very daunting task but rest assured by the end of this 1 day workshop you will LOVE your overlocker!

Price: 
£50.00

Brother Open Weekend Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th September

Saturday, 14 September 2019 - 10:30am to 4:00pm
Sunday, 15 September 2019 - 10:30am to 4:00pm

This is a unique opportunity to be one of the first to see the latest range of Brother sewing and embroidery machines.

Over the weekend we will be showing you the latest models and new features, straight from the UK launch.

Rachel from Brother and Steve from Dowlings Sewing Machines will be here on Saturday, and we will also be demonstrating on Sunday.

You can just pop in to the studio or contact us to book a personal appointment on Saturday.