Stitch and Bitch with Bobby Barfoot

Stitch and Bitch with Bobby Barfoot

BY Kelsey Sheppard

Although drag and design are clearly intertwined for this creative, Bobby Barfoot started sewing long before drag ever entered the picture. What began as making pageant gowns for his niece during her “toddlers and tiaras” days has since evolved into something far more elaborate. Back then, the designs were more conservative. Now, they’re intricate, heavily beaded, and often take weeks to complete.

When he was young, Bobby remembers being made fun of for wanting to learn to sew, but what once drew criticism is now the skill that pays his bills. He calls it a dying craft, one he believes more young people should embrace, not just for its practicality but for its therapeutic value. “Stitch and bitch,” he says, laughing—a phrase he lives by when designs don’t go as planned. “When something goes wrong or not quite how you want to, you have to stitch and bitch and then it starts going the way you want it to.”

His process is equal parts structure and instinct. Sometimes clients come in with clear ideas, even unrealistic AI-generated concepts that couldn’t exist in real life. Instead of turning them away, Bobby sees opportunity. If he can recreate something impossible, it’s proof of his skill. Other times, especially when designing for himself, he works more intuitively—cutting into fabric and letting the vision take shape as he goes.

That freedom is the benefit of creating for himself. Without expectations or guidelines, his creativity flows naturally, even if it means pushing boundaries or adding details until the very last minute. In the world of drag, more is often better, and Bobby embraces that fully. Still, his work is grounded in discipline. He pays close attention to the details most people never see, ensuring the inside of each garment is just as polished as the outside. For Bobby, true craftsmanship isn’t just about appearance—it’s about construction, durability, and pride in the process.

In the end, every gown is a process of trial and transformation. For Bobby, the magic isn’t just in the final product, but everything it takes to get there. If something doesn’t work, he doesn’t walk away from it. He stitches, he bitches, and he keeps going until it does.