Tips for rick rack
 

I've never used much rick rack, but I'm making a baby gift that calls for it. What is the best way to put it on? Sew down the center? Or should each end be tacked to keep it down?

I haven't touched rick rack in years, but I remember that sewing it down the middle looked nice until the quilt was washed; then the ends curled every which way. If your machine can handle it, I would experiment to see if you can do a multi-stitch zigzag that conforms to the waves of the rick rack. This is also called a serpentine stitch. I'm pretty sure that I could adjust stitch length and width so that stitch #3 on my Bernina 1230 (serpentine stitch) would be able to work that way for smaller rick rack; not sure about large rick rack.

Rick rack sewing
 

On wider rick rack you can use a row of straight stitching on each side to secure the tips. This will keep it flat.

a zig stitch that covers the rick-rack.

hm, never thought of it, but if the zig zag does not work, may be you can try three straight stitches - one through the middle, and one on each side to catch the rick rack. I have to say that I did not try this. It just occured to me now.

I used invisible thread once. It worked. otherwise, I tacked each tip down.

Wash and dry the rick rack first - unless it has changed a lot since my girls were little. HTH

I would use ribbon, it looks nicer and feels better.

The last time I used rick rack (this year) I took my time, and machine sewed from point to point. Perhaps use a little white glue to hold it down in place while you do this..... The look of rick rack is timeless, but the tips will curl, especially on the wide stuff. If you take your time and do it right will be worth it in the end.

I haven't used rick rack in a very long time, but there is a hand stitching method whereby you would catch the peaks and the valleys of the rick rack with a needle and thread. The stitches are hidden underneath and looks very nice.