I haven't really applied rick rack, but I did see something - maybe Martha's Sewing Room Show, don't know. Any way the rick rack was added using a zig zag. The zig caught the indentation on one side, the zag caught the indentation on the other. It really looked good and I am sure it would stay straight forever. I suppose to get the zig and zag right would take a little practice, but once the length and width were right, would be an easy application.