CheongSam dress wanabe

The only 2 meters fabric I manage to grab in Ldn, I was anxious and a bit confused, now I clearly regreted!. So anyway, I will use this fabric to make my first CheongSam dress (I'm not sure if I call it right), the dress is in progress but seems like my spirit is drop bcoz of the heavy snow outside.

I'll post the picture as soon as the sun is come.

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Just updated, here are the pictures of the dress.

The slit is on the side of the dress, practically is on the side seam. This material is 100% polyester which is very hard to work with. Next time I'll use cotton instead and put the slit in the front panel for sexier look.

I made the frog button myself. This is the very first time I struggle with the cord. It wasn't that easy, but practice surely makes perfect. The cord cost a lot here, irritate me. When you choose for the cord, I think try to choose the rigid one, easier to work with.

Biker Jacket (When East meets West)

When I was in Tenerife with the warm and pleasant weather, I noticed that I need a trendy jacket to complete my look, aswell to keep my shoulder warm when the temperature drop in the afternoon.

So I made this cropped biker jeans jacket with the touch of Indonesian batik on the collar and sleeves. I must admit it was quite complicated project, but I learned some tricks along the way and I might want to make another one in different colour.

Autumn - Winter R.O Collection 2011

After a week of living inside my imagination.. tried to figure out which designs are best for this season. Finally the dresses took shape and here are the latest collection from Ritney Ogez. The material is elastane jersey... you may want to wear them with leggin underneath the dress or skinny jeans.

I think these are my last project for the time being. I already packed my sewing tools and stuff in a box to keep. I don't know if I can bring them with me or not.

Me and my husband.. we plan to go on travelling again after 5 years living in Bologna Italy. We'll go to Tenerife Island in Spain. We might stay for a month or even more if we like the place.

Next time I post something I'll try to write about our new environment. Hopefully I can do my sewing aswell there otherwise... would be sad ;'(

Strapless Tube Mini Dress

Requested by my girlfriend... I manage to make one sample of Strapless Tube Dress... which I may (maybe) launch a few before summer completely end. I mean... it is officially autumn already but the weather still quite warm sometimes.

The whole concept is similar like my other strapless dress... which is with elastic shirring at the back panel. But with tighter shape on each side seams.

On the picture she wore the dress with black bolero ... which give me an idea of making a reversible bolero... to complete your dresses!

I don't own the picture

Idul Fitri 2011

It is early September..the weather here in Bologna is gettin' chilly compare to few days ago. I went to a halal bihalal / Idul Fitri party somewhere in Montebelluna-Italy... last sunday. I made marble cake (It was a success) for the occassion. I don't really bake or cook much. I think I have a limitation in that departement.

On the picture.. I'm in the middle. My girlfriends who happen to wore my creation are on my left and right side. We wore Kebaya Encim ala Bolognese.. one of the latest creation from Istri Teladan Corporation.

Kebaya Encim ala Bolognese

After been asked many times by bunch of girlfriends.. In the end I took the challenge to sew kebaya. Kebaya is an Indonesian traditional clothes (according to my knowledge). Women.. they usually wear it for some special occassion such wedding... or others. I never sew kebaya before. My girlfriend sent me the pattern outline but I still got no clue. One day I thought.. I'm going to give it a try anyway. So I started to draft the pattern. Basic one. I manage with the pattern but I want to give some personalize touch on it... I sew three lines of elastic for the front panel. Attach bell type of sleeves from the elbow point. Originally.. when you wear kebaya.. you wear aswell the sarong. But I'm not in the mood to sew the sarong to go with it. I thought I'll wear black skinny pants will do the show. For the material... I use Indian silk... the one I got for my bday gift. Bought in India and brought here by my sister in law. The colour is cooper colour. For the collar and the sleeves.. I use batik cotton..left over from my last trip to London. The funny part is... this batik is original Indonesian Batik halus but I bought it in London. I paid even much cheaper than if I buy it in Indonesia... crazy! The final result is nice. I think now I can say that.."hey.. I sew kebaya too..y'all know"

Off Shoulder bat wing Mini dress

Showing off a little part of your shoulder can be quite sexy. So I come up with this off shoulder bat wing mini dress which you can wear it with or without legging.

Making bat wing sleeve is easy enough, it just needs a lot of material because it's all one piece cut. Save you time to attach the sleeve though.

Due to the elastic material, you need a serger to work with it. Otherwise an easy project like this can turn into a nightmare if you use normal sewing machine. But anyway, that is my opinion.

Coming soon on www.ritney.etsy.com

Easy Petticoat and 50's flair Dress

I've been wanting to make 50's flair dress. But I also want it to be easy to wear without zipper nor buttons. After browsed around the net.. I figured one out that to make 50's look .. I need to wear petticoat underneath the skirt. I remember when I was a kid.. I used to hate it.. usually made from tulle and makes me itchy and hot. So this time I thought I would skip the tulle and use lace instead for the bottom part. The key is to gather the lace so that it creates ruffles to lift your skirt a bit.

My quick and easy petticoat. Does the job though. I don't particularly follow any pattern just read a few instructions from the net.

My strapless-buttonless-zipperless 50's flair dress with petticoat underneath.

Pencil Skirt

Inspired by Victoria B pencil skirt.

Any normal pencil skirt pattern would do.. just add the length a bit to cover your knee.

Even better if the material is slightly stretch like mine.. and make a slit at the back so allows you to walk easily.

Animal printed Jacket made by me

Pencil skirt made by me

Modern Kimono

I like to read Japanesse manga, I like J-drama, I like everything about Japan. I would like to visit Japan one day. I hope it won't be just a wishful thinking ^.^

oh, I forgot to say I also like kimono. Modern kimono because the real kimono it's seems hard to put on while I like something practical.

I made this modern kimono the other day after I saw Barbie doll with short-modern-geisha style-kimono on shop etalase. Caught my attention, caught my heart aswell ;)

I went home and started to browse around on the net, look for the instructions on how to make simple kimono, even learn on how to wear the real kimono, that's why I came to the conclusion on how ...err..hard to put it on is the real kimono?!

The pattern I drafted myself so considering this still a prototype modern kimono, a few faults here and there but I will come to perfection anway.

I have two points why I chose camouflage fabric. first bcoz that is the only sufficient fabric I have.

Second is bcoz camouflage is hit the high street fashion again here in Bologna. I don't know other places.

To make one kimono, I use something like 3 meters of fabric. Many long pieces left over so I use it to make straps for the belt.

I really mean it by making the belt, I made modern obi belt to go with the kimono. The belt part I use military green cotton, and the straps come from the camouflage fabric left over.

I wore the kimono for the party the other day and I received many compliments and comments from the ladies.. the gentlemen and also from KIDS!!

One of my friend said... "oh.. I didnt know you r coming... I couldnt see you"

I said : "how come?!"

she said : "well.. it's bcoz you wear CAMOUFLAGE!!!"

hahahahah it was joke of the day.

Batik Skirt

I made this Indonesian batik skirt for my dear friend the other time. At first I thought is gonna be a thoughtfull project, instead it came as a breeze. I think it easy due to material I am using. The material is cotton with batik pattern on it. This type of skirt, I must admit needs more material than if you choose -A-Line skirt. Worth the fabric though. I put the lining aswell so it won't be see through.

Will be great for summer. I just hope she will enjoy the skirt as much as when I made it.

My mannequin is slimmer than a normal person.. so I need to pin the skirt in order for the skirt to stay there. You may notice that the shape is a bit unbalance for that reason.

The final result... she wore the skirt and kindly took this picture.

Two Tone Blazer

These days I happened to need a challenging project to do. Then I came up with the idea to make a simple cut blazer which proven -not-that-simple project at all. This is my 3rd times on making a personal blazer. Of course each of them has a different model. Also different material. Infact after I finished my 2nd blazer I promised myself won't make any blazer no more, but hey times change ;)

Anyway, the pattern I drafted from Burda MAG. No try out first on musli, I just cut straight onto my real material. I use two different colour fabric bcoz I couldn't decide on which colour I supposed to work on. But having a two tone colour blazer should make the show go, right?!

The button is basically anything flat and round with facial cotton on it, wrapped with fabric. And for the button hole, I make button loop instead bcoz I'm afraid to spoil the fabric if I make a hole on it.

Inside is line with black lining. I use the same pattern to make the lining.

If you notice, I made a mistake on the collar and on the sleeves. I had a hard time to inserted the sleeves. I did follow the instruction, it just didn't correspond enough. I won't talk about it, I just want to enjoy my blazer now ;)

Cropped White Faux Fur Jacket

Since the last time I worked with faux fur.. It was quiet long ago. It is not that easy..nor difficult but surely tricky to work with. Especially if you have a respiration problem though. I don't have one but the fur fly all over the place. Stuck on everywhere. I cough alot coz I breath it. A bit of a nightmare... I couldn't wait to finish the work. Today I would like to share my "crop faux fur jacket" project with very simple pattern.

STEP 1 : When you lay your pattern..make sure you do it on the wrong side of the fabric. Otherwise you end up cutting out the fur. Also.. notice where the fur nap direction. They need to go to the same direction. Check this link if you need more explanation :http://www.ehow.com/how_2106522_cut-sew-fake-fur.html

STEP 2 : After you cut all.. start to put all the pieces together. Like puzzle ;). Remember to sew from the wrong side of the fabric. Trim the fur all along the seam allowance before you set down on your machine. Otherwise will hard for the machine to work when it's too bulky.

STEP 3: Construct the lining with the same pattern. I always use this method for lining the jacket : http://www.threadsmagazine.com/item/4366/bag-your-jacket-lining

Final look of my cropped jacket. With bell shape sleeves. Not bad..eh?!

Fur jacket always nice with wide collar ^.^

LRD New Year Eve 2010

I always wished for a red dress. Finally got the time to construct one. The cut is pretty easy. The sleeve basically is just a rectangular cut where practically I attached it on the sleeve hole more or less consider they don't match each other. To fit them together.. I pleat the sleeve (to gather a wide piece of fabric to a narrower circumference).

I still have left over red fabric. What d' ya think of another LRD???

Happy New Year 2010 everyone!

Tips ruffles

Hello everyone.. Here's I would like to show how simply ruffles can transform a plain garment into something Fab.

step 1: cut a fabric strip. Along the grain or cross grain shouldn't be a problem. Not in my case though.

step 2: stitch in the middle ..along the way like in the pic.. lower the tension into number 0 and choose the biggest stitch length (usually it's number 4)

step 3 : Pull the bobbin thread while sliding it forward aswell until it form ruffle.

step 4: attach the ruffle on to the plain garment. On my project.. I attached them all along until it covered all the surface.

This is the final garment. I'm happy with the result but I decided to share this only piece with you on http://ritney.etsy.com

Balloon Skirt

Hello... I made a balloon skirt the other day. I would like to share a bit how. It is very easy project. Trace the pattern from any simple/basic skirt pattern you able to find. You don't need an exact measurement. The bigger the better to get "baloon effect". Cut the fabric. Make pattern for the lining by reducing the bottom length around 10cm. Add seam allowance. Sew together skirt and lining. Right side facing. Leave the top part un sewn.

For the ballon effect : Attach the elastic (more or less 90cm) on the seam allowance. The point where you sewn together skirt and lining. Now for the top part.. U may want to attach the waistband. Or insert the elastic on it. Or even better finish the skirt with drawstring method. Anyhow. It is fun easy project.

work out well with taffeta fabric. Any rigid fabric can do aswell. Feel free to try with different ways.

I wore the skirt for the Idul Fitri party. I received many compliments for such a simple effort. In the picture I wore the skirt with a large belt. Next time I'll try drawstring instead of plain waistband.

Scottish mini skirt

This skirt I made from a leftover my mom in law one. Originally was a real scottish kilt with a real English wool. Too bad I don't have a picture of it before I refashioned it ;(

But It was only sufficient for the front panel, so the back part I cut from another fabric. Black, half velvet. The pattern from BWOF march 09. I modified though!

has two pockets on the side like the original pattern, skip the waistband so that the skirt fit on my hip. And make it short...short...short..

sorry for the image poor quality

Cover me up "Faces" dress

Oh boy.. I'm happy now. I just finished my summery dress. How it is actually easy to make mommy bun happy ;). Total work around 2 days .... 5hours a day so 10 hours...ffiiuhhhh..

I use pattern bwof 09 for the top part and for the skirt (I like this one...flowing) part I trace from my "seducing skirt".. the one I used to use to seduced my husband with...ahahhahahha

The fabric is.... the "faces" motive... I'm so fallin with this one. Has so many faces from many cultures. Even Balinesse girl face!

Timeless

I wonder where is the time flying? Today I feel down so I thought I might have feel better if I sew. So I start to cut and sew and when I looked up at a time is 7 o'clock at night. Are u kidding me? Yesterday supposed to be 1st day of spring but It was super windy... collllldddd... Silly me I wore a thin coat coz I wanted to look good..yesterday was saturday night but then I get dusty when I visited my hubby in d flat so It was a total mistake. Catch cold n dusty on sat night. Great! Today fortunatelly is a sunny day. But what's the point sunny day outside but moody inside?

This dress is a result of a timeless... even poor me I don't have anyone to help me to take a picture

from BWOF!

Lace Top

The skirt coming from my unwearable malissa which I took out the top part ..insert elastic and ta da ..turn out to be swingy adoreable skirt. Love it though! The fabric has so many tiny holes..cute... see through

you see... many holes

The black top I made from elastic lace.... transparant...also cute. I follow basic pattern Lidya after i altered. It is just like a shirt. Without zipper nor buttons... I'm so happy. I wore this combination on Indonesian meeting... which lately I find it a bit boring. I just cant go along with them...hehehehe.. This meeting every once a month is basically stuff urself with food... and "please enjoy yourself" or join the "boring" club!

oh whatever.. I think everybody has a right to entertaint themself anyhow. Right?!