Bobbie Sumberg began knitting at seven years old and has been involved with textiles ever since. After a five-year stint raising sheep, spinning, dying, and weaving, she returned to school and received an M.A. from the University of Minnesota in 1993 and a Ph.D in 2001. Research for both these degrees in textile studies was conducted in West Africa.
She has also done research and traveled in India, North Africa, Turkey, and the Middle East and held the position of Curator of Textiles and Costume, as well as Curator of African Art, at the Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe, New Mexico for fourteen years.
She has authored Young Brides, Old Treasures: Macedonian Embroidered Dress, Textiles: Museum of International Folk Art Collection, as well as co-authoring the book Sleeping Around: The Bed from Antiquity to Now and has published articles on her research and on collections at the Museum.
