I get an idea.  I put it on paper in a sketch. Then what?  How to make it real?

My creative process is a little convoluted and chaotic.  When will it become orderly? Probably never.

I wish I could just work out the details in my head and write them down step by step.  But that’s not how this works.

I take my sketch and apply changes to my pattern blocks.  That’s more ideas printed on paper.  The real challenge is coming.

How to take those pieces and put them together in an orderly fashion that another stitcher will understand.  How will it look on the inside? How will seams be finished?  Would this lining look good?  Is there a simpler way???

I might start with a block of fabric and do my embroidery.  Stitching on a block is much easier than cutting out a pattern piece first, then stitching.  All of those cut edges can stretch out of shape in the handling and then you have a useless pattern piece.

The challenge with stitching a block is how to insert it into the style in your head.  I usually end up hand stitching the embroidery to the respective pieces then cut out the outline of the pattern piece.  I end up wracking my brain for an easier way next time (another sample to stitch!!)  Why didn’t I think of that the first time? Well, I don’t know.  Everything is experimental and I always try to have a Plan B…or C…or Plan Walk Away lol.  Sometimes I’ve stitched 2 seams together then can’t do the next step in my head, so rip, rip, rip.  Sometimes I have to change a pattern pieces totally.

But, I love the challenge.  And the creative expression.  And I hope that someone else will understand the idea that I got out of my head and into a finished garment.

Embroider.

Cut.

Piece together.

Find a better way.