Fiber Arts with Nanà e Bobò

Welcome my friend to an interview with a yarn store in Italy. There are so many wonderful small businesses around the world that have amazing yarn, buttons, thread, and are a critical part of their community as they provide places to meet and work together on beautiful pieces of weaving, knitting, crochet and much more! Some have classes in how to learn a new fiber skill, others are a wonderful place to meet your new best friend, or a wonderful lady that will help you find the yarn needed for a project. :)

Nanà e Bobò is one such shop. A wonderful place in Rome, Italy that is a great place for meeting others, learning a new skill, and growing in your current one. You can find amazing yarns of all sizes and shapes (and such softness!) as well as buttons, thread, ribbons, and so much more. Nanà is a wonderful lady and I am thankful that she was willing to be interviewed about her and her shop. She has also created a new technique called the Bobo Freestyle that has combined a number of different types of fiber art skills into one!!! Read on to hear more about her shop and even some advice if you're just starting out as a fiber artist or entrepreneur. :)

How did you start Nanà e Bobò?

 I started Nanà e Bobò in 2010.

What gave you the idea/inspiration?

 My idea was to create, not a simple shop, but a meeting place for all lovers of knitting, crochet and handwork, where to share their passions

Tell us a little about yourself.

 For 30 years I worked in a computer company, but always lover of hand work, perhaps to compensate for too many bits in my work. So 10 years ago I decide to change my working life and to dedicate myself full time to this wonderful activity.

What is Nanà e Bobò all about?

 I created for my logo 2 cartoon characters: Nanà (me) and Bobò (my dog)

How do you choose the yarns you stock?

 I select the yarn in full respect of health and nature, based on qualità, recycling and ecology.

What is your favorite type of yarn to carry?

 In winter Alpaca and in summer organic soft cotton.

What type of fiber/yarn crafts do you enjoy? 

All types, from clothing, to accessories such as bags and jewelry.

What are your favorite things to make with yarn?

 I love experimenting with different materials and techniques, so I invented Bobo Freestyle that is a new technique in the field of handmade knitwear that allows mixed processes with the following techniques:

Freeform, Classic crochet, Tunisian crochet, Tatting and Knitting

Are there crochet/knitting/weaving or other fiber/yarn groups that either meet at your store? How can someone join one of these groups?

Nanà e Bobò is above all a meeting place. Almost every day we have creative workshops for knitting, crochet, sewing etc. On our site you can find all the information. 

Can someone order online from your website (www.nanaebobo.com)? What do you have available for online purchase and shipment? 

 In this moment we are restyling our site, but our online sale will be available soon with great news.

What would you tell a new crocheter/knitter/yarn crafter for encouragement?

 Everyone can learn and at any age. Handwork is fun and is good for your health.

What is something you are passionate about and why? 

 My passion is crochet because versatile tool that allows you to express your creativity in full freedom.

If you had one (or several) things to share with a woman entrepreneur, what would it be? What would you encourage them about?

 Continuous training, sharing and a love love love for your job.

What is a lesson learned for being a woman entrepreneur that you wish someone had told you when you first started?

 Right balance between sales and store.

What is your dream for Nanà e Bobò to be (where do you see Nanà e Bobò in 5+ years)?

 Have a larger and more comfortable space for more people, maybe virtual too.

If you like this, you may like:

• Starting an Online Business with Needle Rebellion

• Weaving

• The Ultimate List of Bulky Crochet Patterns

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Looking at all of the amazing yarn, buttons, ribbons and more that you can find in this store, below is a list of what you can do with fibers to include some fun things for the kids if stuck inside or if you want to learn a new fiber art. Note - This post contains affiliate links, which means I will make a commission at no extra cost to you, should you click through and make a purchase.

• Crochet (see the links to the tutorial series below)

• Knitting

• Arm/finger knitting/crochet

• Tatting

• Crotatting (crochet and tatting)

• Weaving

• Macrame

• Rug Hooking

• With fiber you can do all types of spinning

• Bargello

• Punchneedle

And here are some fun crafts you can do with either left over yarn or use a whole skien of yarn:

• Bluprint has an article on 7 Creative No Stitch Things to Make with Yarn and they also have a huge number of classes you can watch to learn new skills daily if you wanted. You can find my review of them here.

• Felt Magnet has over 47 different ways to use yarn scraps and include anything from dreamcatchers to a yarn dog and yarn ghosts and much more more!

• The Spruce Crafts has 10 different yarn crafts for kids from create from yarn monsters to yarn wrapped owls and more.

• Fave Crafts has 55 yarn crafts to do without knitting or crocheting from pompom rugs to table decorations to wall decorations and much more.

• Buzzfeed has created a list of 28 Super Easy Yarn DIYs with no knitting involved from adding a little color to a braid to upgrading your wicker baskets with some color.
  

• DIYNCrafts has a list of 50 cute projects to make with left over yarn that includes simple necklaces and bracelets to sculptures with yarn and glue and much more.
  

• 5 Minute Crafts has created a video of 21 lovely crafts with yarn that you can do from making a pillow or rug to making a pompom heart and more.
  

• Crafts by Amanda has created a list of many crafts you can use yarn to create to include pompom monsters to wrapping a frame and more.
  

• Dabbles and Babbles has a list of 11 easy yarn crafts to include colorful flip-flops and toilet roll bracelets.
  

• A Pretty Fix has a list of 15 no knit yarn crafts that you can create from yarn wrapped hurricanes to hanging yarn planter.
  

• The Crafty Train has a list of 15 easy yarn crafts for kids to create anything from yarn owls to finger knitting to fuzzy pom spiders and more.

Thank you for joining us on this featured interview with a yarn shop in Italy. I would love to feature/interview you or a favorite yarn/craft store that you recommend. If you have one you recommend or would like to do an interview yourself, please either comment below or send an email to me at vamicreations17@gmail.com. Take care and wishing you all the best in health and wellness.