Make sure to weave your thread ends in well so they don't work loose when washed. One way to start is to weave the needle into the part you are starting with then do your stitching over the woven thread. Have never heard of anyone pre-washing rickrack before. We are still using dishtowels embroidered 20 years ago and no threads have come loose, altho they are large cotton dish towels not tea towels.

Wow! 20 years, that's great news. Are they cotton, or linen? What do they look like? I did read to weave the thread ends 3-4 stitches. My first thought was I should tie a knot, but I guess that weaving works.
Also, I just check the package on the rick rack, it all polyester (wont shrink) and guaranteed not to bleed. I'm not going to wash it. It's nice and flat and I don't want it to get tangled in the dryer. I tested a piece of the red (wet it and rubbed it on white cloth), it didn't bleed. Attached is my pattern. The large areas of red checkers are applique. Am I getting in over my head? Is embroidery difficult to learn?

What's old is new again!

Is that a good thing or did I choose and outdated pattern? I think it's cute!

It means things go in cycles - it's very cute.

What was popular and "in" became "old news" - and then whatever it is/was is rediscovered and exciting and interesting again.

It means I'm older and can remember when people used tea towels, and can remember when they didn't.

I am so happy to see some of the needle crafts becoming popular again.

I remember embroidered dish towels - one for every day of the week - and I still have some of them and use them.

Bearisgray__That is true. I like the retro decor. I have some 1960s mid-modern danish teak furniture that a friend was going to toss out. He didn't want to ship it back to Germany. It's beautiful.

Your pattern is just too cute! As for learning to embroider, I'd start on some scrap cloth before doing the tea-towels, just until you get the hang of it. It's really not hard to learn at all. (I can do it!) :-)

I found towels that I had embroidered in my teens lasted for many years and they were used and washed a lot. :)

Have fun.