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Rockin’ Rick Rack: How to Sew This Wavy Wonder! 🧵✨

Rick rack, with its zigzag charm, has long been a favorite trim for adding a playful touch to sewing projects. Whether you’re jazzing up aprons, crafting cute doll clothes, or decorating home textiles, this vintage-inspired trim is sure to make your creations stand out. Let’s dive into how to sew rick rack like a pro!

What Is Rick Rack? 🤔

Rick rack is a wavy, zigzag trim that comes in various sizes and colors. It's typically made from cotton, polyester, or a blend, and is used to embellish hems, seams, and edges. With its fun shape, rick rack is perfect for adding a retro vibe to your sewing projects!

Supplies You’ll Need 🧵✂️

Before you start, make sure you have:

  • Rick rack trim in your preferred size and color

  • Sewing machine (or needle and thread for hand sewing)

  • Matching or contrasting thread (depending on the look you want)

  • Pins or fabric clips to hold the rick rack in place

  • Sewing marking tool for placement (optional)

  • Iron for pressing (optional, but helpful!)

💡 Pro Tip: If you're sewing thick rick rack onto heavy fabrics, use a heavier needle, like a size 90/14, to avoid needle breakage.

1. Choose Your Placement 📍

Decide where you want the rick rack to go. Do you want it along the hem, around the neckline, or as an accent on pockets? Mark the fabric lightly with a sewing marking tool to ensure straight or curved lines as needed.

2. Pin or Clip the Rick Rack in Place 🧷

Align the rick rack along the marked line. For a zigzag look that’s half on and half off the edge of your fabric, align the center of the rick rack with the fabric’s edge. Alternatively, sew it completely on the fabric to keep the entire zigzag visible. Use pins or fabric clips to hold it in place.

3. Stitch Down the Center 🧵

Set your sewing machine to a straight stitch. Sew along the center of the rick rack, guiding the needle down the middle of the trim. This method keeps the wavy design secure and looking even.

For a different effect, try sewing along the edges of the rick rack instead of the center. You can even stitch in a matching or contrasting thread to change up the vibe!

4. Tuck It Under for a Clean Edge 🧽

For a more polished finish, fold the ends of the rick rack under before sewing, or trim them afterward and seal with a dab of fabric glue or Fray Check to prevent unraveling.

🎀 Creative Hack: For layered rick rack, sew multiple rows in different colors or sizes, slightly overlapping them for a fun, dimensional effect.

5. Press Your Rick Rack Flat (Optional) ✨

Use an iron to press the sewn rick rack flat. This step is especially useful if your rick rack looks a little bunched or uneven. Press from the back of the fabric to avoid flattening the trim too much.

Rick Rack Ideas to Try 🎨

  • Rick Rack Flowers: Sew circles of rick rack to create adorable floral appliqués.

  • Wave Hems: Attach rick rack along a hemline for a cute wavy finish.

  • Rick Rack Bows: Fold the rick rack into bow shapes and sew them onto accessories for a unique look.

Rick Rack Sewing Classes 🏫

Need a bit more guidance? Check out sewing classes from Craftsy where you can find tutorials on sewing trims like rick rack! Use my affiliate links to access some fantastic sewing patterns and classes!

Make It Fun with Rick Rack! 🎉

Adding rick rack to your sewing projects is an easy way to bring charm and character to any creation. Whether you’re new to using trims or a seasoned sewing pro, experimenting with rick rack is bound to be a delight!

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