We were lucky to catch up with Kali Doyle recently and have shared our conversation below.
Kali, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
I’m a big believer in nurturing creativity constantly. It’s like a muscle, and if you don’t use it, you lose it. I never really saw myself as a creative person until I got into cosplay, sewing, and designing clothes. Now, whenever I get an idea, I make a point to write it down, even if I don’t act on it right away. Just capturing those thoughts helps keep that creative energy flowing.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m Kali, also known as @misskalidoyle on social media. I love creating wearable art, whether it’s everyday clothing or elaborate costumes. I originally got into sewing through cosplay, and while taking costume design classes in school, even though I majored in computer science, I became obsessed with the small details and the engineering behind how garments are made.
Now I share my work across platforms like YouTube, where I document my creative process and the things I’m learning along the way. I also design and release sewing patterns based on the pieces I make. One of the most rewarding parts of this journey is seeing how my personal style and craftsmanship evolve over time.
I truly believe you do not have to be a professional to make something beautiful. With the right tools, patience, and a bit of resilience, anyone can bring their creative vision to life.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I believe the three most important qualities in my journey have been humility, patience, and open mindedness.
Humility is essential because when I started with costuming and pattern making, I had to begin very small. If I had let my ego take over and tried to do something huge right away, I probably would have burned out or lost confidence. Starting simple gave me room to grow without pressure.
Patience is just as important. Most skills do not develop overnight. You have to be willing to try, fail, and try again. It is not always glamorous, but that process is where real progress happens.
Lastly, open mindedness has helped me grow so much. Even if I have a preferred way of doing something, like hemming, I always pay attention to how others approach it. Whether it is from a pattern, a tutorial, or another maker, staying curious makes it easier to improve and adapt.
For anyone just starting out, I would say give yourself permission to learn slowly, stay humble about what you do not know yet, and always stay open to new techniques and ideas. That mindset will take you much further than perfection ever will.
What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
Right now, my biggest challenge is time, something I think a lot of people can relate to. Between my nine to five job, going to the gym, and handling everyday responsibilities, it can be hard to carve out space for working on patterns and costumes.
To manage it, I focus on consistency rather than intensity. I work a couple hours at a time during the evenings and try to dedicate most of my weekends to my craft. I also make rest a priority. When I feel mentally drained, I let myself sleep in or take a break to recharge by playing video games. Finding that balance helps me stay motivated without burning out.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://misskalidoyle.com
- Instagram: misskalidoyle
- Facebook: Kali Doyle
- Youtube: misskalidoyle
Image Credits
misskalidoyle
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