Bobbi Eden is a familiar face in the Netherlands. She regularly presents for several TV shows, and has already published books on learning how to crochet and sew. And now? Now, she's co-launching an exclusive sewing book with Fibre Mood! Bobbi puts a new spin on sewing, emphasising upcycling old clothes. Excited to find out what this creative wonder woman has in store?
Hi Bobbi!
When were you first bit by the creative bug?
‘Geez, well ... let me think... It had to have been when I was a kid. All I remember is constantly being up to something – on Wednesday afternoons, at the weekend, after school, I was always drawing, cutting, pasting, doing stuff with parchment craft. Seriously, it’s true. You name it, and I've done it. “
‘My mum is super creative and so is my eldest sister. I think it's just in the genes. When I was younger, I'd sign up for all kinds awesome workshops. One time it was flower arranging, while another it would be scrapbooking, making cards, or pottery; when it comes to trying out workshops, I've basically sampled it all. And it taught me a lot. Practice makes perfect, as they say, and I think that’s true of everything. “
Are you only into making clothes or do you have other creative hobbies as well?
‘A better question is, “What don’t I do?”. That list is a whole lot shorter. I have tons of creative hobbies. Naturally, I crochet and knit. I've already published several books on that. I started with amigurumi books to show how everyone can crochet. Eventually, I wrote Crocheting at Home (haken at home) for Bobbi. It’s packed with all kinds of projects for in and around the house. Then I went on to make a winter book too, which even includes a few baby sewing patterns. I build miniatures and dolls' houses, which I absolutely love doing. I also spend time sketching once in a while. I really enjoy drawing what I see in photographs ... and scrapbooking, bullet journalling, gaming [laughs] – not that that’s all that creative, of course – although it does require you to put your creative thinking cap on sometimes. So, right... Basically I'm juggling tons of things at the same time. I'm always up for trying new stuff out.’
What do handicrafts (sewing and/or knitting) mean to you? Does it play a major role in your life?
‘Well, of course! It gives me a sense of peace, and I absolutely adore how you can create something from nothing – how you ultimately end up designing something yourself or making something based on a pattern. And that’s especially true when using your own colours or fabrics, of course. I think it's important to switch your brain over to creative mode for a while, instead of spending all your time glued to a screen. So, it definitely plays a major role in my life, and I always try to make time for it.’
Do you have a special spot where you sew at home?
‘Have I got a special spot for sewing at home? You mean my bedroom? Wait, maybe that’s not what you were getting at [laughs]... No, but seriously... I do have a mini hobby room, but it's so packed with other hobby-related bits and bobs that I sometimes have a hard time finding my sewing machine. I even have a large, high table for my sewing machine and patterns to make it easier to work while standing. I don’t want to spend all my time sitting; standing is a nice alternative. Often, I just sew at the dining room table. It kind of depends on my mood.’
Do you mainly sew for yourself or do you also treat others?
‘I sew for myself, my son Brandon, or for my husband Mark. For the rest, I don’t really sew for anyone else. My free time is precious to me; I haven’t got a whole lot of it and when I do, I prefer spending it on my family.'
What’s the biggest incentive for you to sew your own clothes instead of buying them in the shops?
‘First of all, I really enjoy wearing something special, in fabrics/clothes I've made myself – something one-of-a-kind. It’s something different, and it goes without saying that it's not something you find standard in the shops. And I think that gets to the heart of it – wearing something unique that you made yourself. That’s something I'm quite proud of.’
Old garments play a major role in Bobbi Style. Do you think the fashion world should become more climate conscious and sustainable?
‘Either way you look at it, I think the fashion world should become more climate conscious and sustainable. And Bobbi Style makes that fun too. What’s so nice about it is that you can upcycle anything. Huge amounts of clothing are produced; that's a fact. Fast fashion – after two rounds in the wash, it's often just about ready for the bin. I'm not claiming that I don’t buy fast fashion; I do. The thing is, it’s nearly impossible to avoid. Even still, I think it’s important to put some thought into it. Not everything needs to be binned; you can actually reuse and upcycle things. That slows the chain down, which is more sustainable.’
Can you name a home-sewn item that you're super proud of?
‘I absolutely love the denim dress in my book. It’s made of all kinds of old denim blouses, making it a genuine restyle. The restyled yellow leopard print jumper is also one that turned out especially nice. I think I may be most proud of those, especially because I upcycled several different fabrics in those projects.’
How did you come up with the idea to share your love of sewing and publish creative sewing and crochet books?
‘I started sharing my sewing endeavours when Brandon was born. Around six months after, I got out my sewing machine to make him tracksuit bottoms, shirts, and jumpers – items that just fit well, in a comfy fabric. I enjoyed it so much that I started sharing on Instagram. Through the grapevine, I started hearing folk say, “Oh, I'd like to do that too!”. That made me think, well, anyone can! And that’s how my first and now, the second, sewing book came about. Where my crochet and knitting books are concerned, it was basically the same thing. People would come to me and say, “I want to do that too.” and “I don’t even know how to cast on.” and “I don’t get it”; finally, around two years later, I started developing my first crochet book. That was when I designed patterns for the very first time, which was exciting and a little nerve-racking. That actually turned out to be a huge success. It became a bestseller, but more importantly, people who used to be too afraid to crochet – because the threshold was too high and everything often just looked too tricky – started crocheting. The response I got at the time was overwhelmingly positive. So, that’s actually the reason. I want others to be empowered to do it too. I think that’s where my passion comes from, being able to help others and get them excited about creating.
How do you decide on which patterns to include in your books? Are there any specific key criteria that are an absolute must?
‘It has to be accessible to all. That really means for newbie Sewist(a)s and people who've done their fair share of sewing and are looking for a challenge. I also think it's important not to have to spend days and weeks on end on a project. Basically, you should be able to get it done in an afternoon, in just a few hours. Got a party to attend on Saturday? Then you should be able to sew it on the Thursday or Friday before. It shouldn’t take too long, should be easy to make and follow the instructions, and has to feel comfortable.’
Have you got any tips & tricks to share with other (newbie) Sewist(a)s?
'Carefully check what you need in advance, and then look for the right fabric, item-by-item. Sometimes, you’ll pop into a fabric shop or fabric market and pick up something because the print was just too cute to resist. In the end, though, it ends up stuck in your cupboard for ages because you haven’t got a clue what to make with it. You also often need a whole lot more fabric for printed garments. If you’re going to stock up on certain fabrics, make sure that they're “basic”, i.e. easy to pair with a nice print, for example. That could be something in black, blue, or ochre. Don’t buy too much fabric. Check your wardrobe first to see what you can upcycle. For example, think about a great pair of training bottoms that don’t actually fit anymore, but that you could cut and cleverly apply to different training bottoms or turn into trim. Or maybe you could use the whole front and back of a jumper, dress, or other garment. And it’s not just your wardrobe. You could also check out your partner's closet and the wardrobes of friends, family, or even acquaintances. Pop by with a bin bag and see what fabric treasures you can walk off with. “
Do you love Bobbi Eden too and would you like the bundle of Fibre Mood patterns in her new book? Add it to your shopping basket here!
Important note: This pattern book is only available in Dutch. However, you can download the instructions for these patterns in English, French, and German from our website free here. If you’re a fan of these patterns, then it’s the perfect pack for you!
