I generally craft several levels of gear for whatever character I'm currently working on.
So if I have a level 22 character, so I'll craft 23-41 gear, and will probably take a few days to get done, during which I'll run dailies for credits and send out companions for mats. I'll store the gear in either the levelling character's cargo or in one of my many storage characters.
When I'm getting close to 41, I'll stop and craft 42-53 gear, doing the dailies again.
Has worked fine for me for most of my 16 55s. (First four I did differently, and less efficiently.)