Deciding what to make

[gem]

This is one of those "Philosophy of Garbing" threads. 

In addition to sewing, I'm also a needleworker.  I do a lot of counted stitchery, needlepoint, blackwork, etc.  In my needlework, I'm all over the place.  I have four or five projects in various stages of completion at any given time, and I stitch on whichever one I feel like.  Right now I'm working on Teresa Wentzler's Castle Sampler (Isabella will recognize this!).  I stitch--or not--when I feel like it, with no worries about when or even if something gets done (I worked on one project for more than eleven years!).  I stitch for fun, for the pleasure of stitching.  I've been stitching for 30 years (I'm 35), and I have ONE piece of needlework on display in my home!

My sewing is NOTHING like this!  I have projects that I want to do, because I have garb items I want to wear.  I have to motivate myself to work on things.  I pretty much never really feel like sewing.  I often feel like I *should* be sewing (like right now; I "should" be working on Milord's Gimli costume), and I love having sewn, but for me sewing is a means to getting garb.

But... I'm wondering if I should let myself have more fun with my sewing, even if it means maybe getting less finished.  I have a sudden urge to start another corset.  Why?  I have no idea!!  I don't need another corset.  I don't have garb to wear with the corsets I have already!  I "should" be making a doublet bodice and a skirt to go with the corset I just finished.

Or should I?  I mean, what does it really matter, right?  I'm the only one who cares.  It's my hobby; shouldn't I do with it what I want?

How does everyone else approach their garbing projects?  Do you sew whatever strikes your fancy at a particular moment, or do you plan things through and persevere until you've finished?

[Tixi]

I am all over the place. I never plan. I never have enough trim. I have only planned an outfit fully before, but planning is one thing and execution is another (ended up needing more piping and the end bits (sleeves, modesty panels) still aren't done). Most of the time I am just aimlessly buying fabric I like so that I can reach into the bottomless bags of hoarded fabric and find stuff that looks good together. Sometimes I complete things, but more often than not, I don't.

I have about 10 nearly finished projects strewn about in my sewing room. That is not even including the 'mostly' finished projects scattered around, and the growing bag of 'abandoned projects of shame' that become scrap material. I literally have dozens of muslins and craft paper cut into various bodice patterns that I couldn't get to work. It's extra arduous when you're trying to fit something to yourself, by yourself.

I've only been sewing for about a year, so I'm kind of at the beginning end of intermediate in terms of skill, and there are a whole bunch of things I don't know how to do yet, and things I don't do well. I don't always pay attention, and I rip a lot of stitches.

And then, when the whole mess becomes more frustrating than fun, I stop.

Sometimes I will hit a snag, get really bored, angry with myself for not being better, or not be competent enough to move on, so I stop, and the next time I want to sew, I start something else just so that I'm still practicing and can have a fresh outlook. I'll try working on something else to get my confidence back, maybe learn some more, and then later I can revisit the project I got stuck on before.

But I know it's a learning process, and it's for amusement and enrichment of my life, so if I have to go through all of this so that one day I can make beautiful things that don't have lots of mistakes and that I am proud to wear, then so be it. I'm getting there.

[Lady L]

I have been sewing for over 40 years! ( I know, yikes!) During that time, I have done all kinds of things and have improved...sometimes gradually and sometimes by leaps and bounds. I like the whole process, from looking at patterns, shopping for fabric, dreaming about finished pieces, the actual cutting and sewing process and wearing the finished work. Most of what I sew I have finished, but I do have some unfinished pieces, that will probably never be done. This happened when we moved and now the kids are adults and I have gained weight. 

I usually finish the garments for  other people first, while mine wait "until I have more time." We all know how that goes. I also have garb I made and have never worn.

I always plan and sketch, I love doing that. I also buy when patterns and/or fabric is on sale, but try to keep that to a limit, as I only have so much space.

When something turns out wonderfully and I have nice pics of it, other people take pics of it and compliment the person wearing it, that is encouraging to me to make more. We won quite a few costumes contests this year, so that helps!

One of the reasons I like making garb is that it is so much more FUN  and CREATIVE than ordinary clothing. Sewing is relaxing for me. Sometimes, I do get tired of working on something, or the time has passed and it has to wait until next year. It is mostly a hobby for me, but I sometimes sew for other people.

[Kate XXXXXX]

Throw bodice patterns and toiles that didn't fit away, save old skirts for making toiles...

I toss out all the toiles I've finished with, and most of the patterns drafted for particular projects unless they are historic stuff or particularly new and innovative designs.  Or they fir superbly, or...  Yeah, I toss the ones I'm not so happy with and save the ones that worked.   

I'm usually working on several projects at once.  I'm fighting to keep them more organized.  It's easy to lose track of what's for whom if I don't, and that is no good at all when it's customers!  I keep all the sketches and patterns and ideas, and samples of fabrics and trims in a big folder, and ad the bills for fabrics and everything, so there's a paper trail for each project as well as an electronic record.

I mean to document the whole process, including the organizing, as soon as I get started on the wedding projects.

[Lady Rebecca]

In general, ideas will come to me, and I will sketch them out. Then, depending on how much I like something, it will go into the pile in order of when I want to make them. Right now, I'm pretty much not sewing at all, because I don't own my own machine yet, and don't work in the costume shop during the day anymore. So the 17th century stays that I started this summer (when I was at home) are still not fully boned. And they only became the top of my list because I wanted a 17th cent gown, and knew I should be making the stays first.

Last year, when I was in the shop every day, I had a whole bunch of projects going, and all but one of them was for a specific reason. (I did an Alice costume for Halloween for my little when we were bored backstage of Earnest; I made pumpkin pants and doublet, bodice, skirts, and chemise, and slops and shirt before my first Ren Faire for myself and friends; etc).

Right now, though, I've also been trying not to go to fabric stores, because I'm moving in a month, and my stash is already too big. I've been sooo good! The last time I was in a fabric store was late July, I believe.

So basically, to answer your question, it's mostly a "plan and persevere" mode. Though I did make the garb in my avatar for no real reason. And I mean no real reason, since it's too nice/complex/delicate/hot/expensive to ever wear to faire!

[LadySeasan]

im usually all over the place with my sewing also, so dont feel bad. part of being creative is being all over the place!!!  what i do to get motivated, is to actually write out the projects i am going to finish. i dont know why, but in my mind, when i see something written out on paper, i have to do it in that order.  if it gets terribly bad. i have my husband hide the other fabrics and such for other projects, until i get the current project done, and move down the list!

i have a lot of sewing to do to put items in my etsy store. have i started yet? yes,  am i anywhere near finishing..no lol

[GirlChris]

I'm an actor, and I only really feel the drive to work on a costume when I have a performance to go along with it. For example, my medieval peasant stuff went together with a minimum of fuss, because I knew I'd have to wear it for the Chatham and Morrisburg medieval festivals. It went from basic plan to completed project in maybe a couple of months. My tudor gown, on the other hand, has been in planning for years, I have everything I need for it, but I haven't worked on it in months because the only event where I play Tudor nobility I have a costume provided by the faire.

I even do this with real life sewing. I have fabric for a shirt all cut out, but I haven't worked on it in the longest time because I don't NEED another shirt. A dress to wear for my cousin's wedding was finished in a week.

I need pressure to want to sew.

[WaywardWench]

I wish I could say I stick with it to the end. The truth is I have a several outfits that were created on deadlines that got to a wearable stage and never went much farther, certainly never to full design or completion.

I was in a frozen state last year. I had a room of wonderful stash fabric that had purpose behind each piece when it was purchased. Over the years the purpose was lost or no longer valid. I could not move forward. I was overwhelmed with the volume. Like the magpie of one of my characters I flitted from fabric to fabric and never got anything actually done.

Stop, I can hear several of you offering to take the yardage off my hands. LOL! It's mine and I will wear it all, one day.

I had a garbing girlfriend come over and we went through the fabrics. It was nice to have a new set of eyes to look at the pretties and not have the memories of what it was originally intended for. We made a To Do list. I patted her down before she left, relieving her of several lengths that had somehow stuck to her fingers. I may never make all of it but it gave me the chance ro get moving on something again. Last year a kirtle, corded petticoat, and sleeves got made and worn. Not all that much of an accomplisment but a start. 

I do best and worst when I have a deadline. Right now I have oodles of time and I am getting nothing done. So, talk among yourselves for a bit, I think I'll go and start something on that list.

I have 3 projects cut, several that need alterations or mending and a major outfit in the excitement of planning stage at the moment. Some are on my TO DO list and some are not. Happy planning and sewing.

I say do what makes you the happiest. 
Wayward Wench

[gem]

I'm thinking I may commit to one project with a deadline, and then flit around as I feel like it when I'm not working on that.  That should work, right?

I get more done when I'm not really committed to a project, if that makes sense--if I can just sew for fun and not worry that something's not perfect.  The perfect, planned-to-the-last-detail things just don't seem to get made.

This might get me the best of both worlds.

[Aunty Lou]

     .
One thing at a time, one thing at a time.  Mind you, the stash is still there, with the pattern with the fabric it will go to, but once in a moon or so I have to go through and reassess whether I will actually ever wear that oh-so-eighties pegged skirted, broad-shouldered, so sharp it will put your eye out dress in electric blue faille, and re-purpose the fabric to under-skirt or slashing for something costume-y. 
     
     And the needlework goes by the TV chair, to be picked up at odd moments.  I hate just sitting in front of a TV...  I'm currently knitting a shawl of the prettiest, most gossamer weight lace I could find...

[Kate XXXXXX]

I'm always better with a deadline.

[ArielCallista]

I usually am constantly wanting to sew something...I'm not sure why that is. I do find it difficult to be motivated on a something complicated or a boring piece...like sewing myself yet ANOTHER skirt. I normally have to come up with a full outfit and when I want to wear it in order to motivate myself to do the icky parts. Also it seems the longer i have to wait to work on something (thanks to being broke or not having time) the more excited I am about working on it. So if you've got skirts or something you need to finish then settle on a weekend when you plan to wear it. You can sew as much other stuff for fun but its good to keep the obligation to yourself and finish up.

[Hoowil]

I often find myself wanting to make something. Its a general feeling, which is really annoying, because it is not inspiration towrds any one goal or project, or even what kind of project, just a sense that I should be making something. By the time I can figure out what sounds like fun to make, I'm out of time or energy. When it some time to actually make a planned project, I horribly procastinate and have to rush things at the last minute. It doesn't help that I have to squeeze my sewing/crafting into what ime I can get after work and two small children. Its a big part of why each season I moana that the kids get new garb, and the wife usually gets at least one new peice, if not almost all new garb, but I've been using the same garb for years, getting only a few odds and ends, mainly purchased. This year I swear, by Sonora, I will have myself new and better garb! if I can get myself to make it in time... both kids will need all new too....

[gem]

I often find myself wanting to make something. Its a general feeling, which is really annoying, because it is not inspiration towards any one goal or project, or even what kind of project, just a sense that I should be making something.

This is totally normal for people like us, IMO.  We're Makers, and we're always going to have that almost physical need to manipulate raw ingredients and create something where there was nothing before.  It was actually the subject of a speech I gave this summer to the American Library Association (I'm an author IRL), (which you can actually view here, if you have a spare 13 minutes you want to kill).

[Margaret]

I have ADD when it comes to garb. 

I usually have a 'I want to do' list worked up that is a list of 2 or 3 gowns and the stuff to go along with them (hats, shirts etc).

I will start one project, then move on to another becuase I get bored or mad at one project.  I usually and eventually get everything done, but it's always a mish mash of 'doneness'.