Easy ric-rac trim (in downloads)

[sewingmel]

This is NOT the heirloom way to do something at all. I think of it as the down and dirty quick way. This is for projects that involve a ton of ric rac or hem (with no patience for hem facings). I do a lot of projects with ric rac at Christmas so I thought someone may find use in this. Sorry for the picture quality. They were taken on my phone. I will try to add better ones later.

Step one: Wash, dry, and steam iron medium 1/2" ric rac on hot. This stuff shrinks, and you don't want your project ruined by forgetting this step.

Step 2: Line up ric rac against the right side of the fabric, and line up the bottom edges of the fabric and ric rac. It is really best if you line it up with the bottom curve of the ric rac curving towards the bottom edge of the fabric. Mine curves the other way and has an exposed raw edge. Make sure to seal edge of ric rac as well.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s181/shoepants/easyricrac.jpg

Step 3: Serge fabric and ric rac together. Make sure to keep them against the blade without going under it. It might also be best to match your serging to your ric rac.

Step 4: Fold ric rac under and iron. If I had put the curve going down, I would have had a much prettier end.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s181/shoepants/easyricrac2.jpg

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s181/shoepants/easyricrac3.jpg

Step 5: Topstitch, and you are finished!

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s181/shoepants/finishedricrac.jpg

[Ang]

Thanks for sharing that tip. That's a great idea. : )

[DawnMcD]

what a great idea! would it work with a zigzag or overcast stitch on a regular machine? I might have to give it a try!

[sewingmel]

what a great idea! would it work with a zigzag or overcast stitch on a regular machine? I might have to give it a try!

I think you could make that work. You just need to make sure that your needle sinks in the ric rac midway (1/4").

[crydparker]

Didn't know about shrinking ric-rac...love this tip!

[Vanessa]

Very clever! Thanks!

[BugzNBean]

I like that method - good idea.

[sewsew]

Thanks for the great tips and tute - just got some wonderful rickrack yesterday!

[Becky]

Thank you! I tried using ricrac recently and it was soooo hard lol. I think this would be so much easier!!

[mccloskeyjl]

That is a great tip! Thanks.

[noboty]

Great tute!

[Sawa1210]

Thank you!

[nicolew8]

That makes it super easy. Thanks for sharing this idea!

[Juniper]

Great idea!

I've been wanting to use ric rac trim, but wasn't sure how to go about it!

[ayesha]

cool! thanks for teaching

[OneBlessedMess]

Thanks for sharing!!!

[Chrisnkelley]

Awesome! I will have to try with my overcast stitch also as I don't have a serger! Thanx!

[3chickadeesandme]

what a lovely idea. I wouldn't have known to wash it first. Thanks!!!!

[bnylund]

This is a great tip! Thank you!

[sienna]

Thank you! That looks really nice!

[ialady44]

Your way is so much better than how I've done it. Do you ever have a problem with it wanting to curl back up after washing? ....like how the hems of jeans & jean skirts do?

[sewingmel]

Your way is so much better than how I've done it. Do you ever have a problem with it wanting to curl back up after washing? ....like how the hems of jeans & jean skirts do?

It curls up sometimes, but I use this technique on items that would normally get a quick iron. A little bit of steam takes care of it right away. I don't like to iron much, but I do iron all of our little girl dresses!

[shelle007]

Good job! you make it look easy!