1) great sewing machine that sews straight stitch- My favorite machine was my Husquavarna classica 90 that just died on my last year. any workhorse machine is fine as long as you bond with it and it becomes part of you
2) great iron- you will be doing lots of pressing and ironoing. I love my Rowenta and if I had my way would get an upgrade. nothing worse than an iron spitting and spewing on your beautifully sewn blocks.
3) seam ripper. a beginner usually will make friend with a seam ripper as will “seasoned’ sewers too. A seam ripper lets you know that there are no mistakes a seam ripper cant help fix. (unless you cut a piece too small)