onaemtnest

I need help from someone that has experience using Rick Rack on a quilt top. I've made a Sail Boat baby quilt and I'd like to apply 1.5" Rick Rack to replicate waves. The top is pieced and ready to be sandwiched...

1. How do I sew the Rick Rack on? What stitch would you recommend? I looked at some sites and some suggest a decorative stitch down the center (which I don't want to do with this particular quilt).
2. My concern is the edges curling with time, or is that the nature of the beast?
3. Do I apply it now while it's still a flimsy or after it's sandwiched? Just taking the rick rack beyond the edges and catching the ends when I bind? All the quilting will be linear, stitch in the ditch.
4. I usually use a LA person for quilting but this one is small enough 40"X48" I will be attempting my first time quilting on my Viking Husquvarna 1+. I've quilted table toppers stitch in the ditch but nothing quite this big.

I know that someone will have the knowledge I lack here. I feel it's probably a simple thing but I'm just needing some help and encouragement :0)

MartiMorga

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.

Jan in VA

I recently finished this I Spy quilt for a nephew (wish the picture taker had made it better) and used rickrack on it.
I used a straight stitch through the middle of the rickrack and let it curl later, yes, as it's prone to do. Babies and "littles" like 'playing' with it like that - a tactile thing.
I inserted into a seam allowance and pressed that seam away from the rickrack.
I applied it before I made the quilt sandwich and skipped over it when I quilted the whole.

Your little one will like the quilt no matter, I'm sure!

Jan in VA

Tartan

I always apply Rick Rack so that the ends go into a seam. If you are worried about it curling I wouldst right stitch down the center of the Rack Rack but following the zig zags. If you were just doing a small section it wouldn't take too long to change directions for each angle.

QuiltnNan

if you are using the jumbo rick rack and want to be sure they stay looking like waves, i'd do a long but narrow zig zag stitch along both edges. but, like the others have said, the little 'uns like the tactile of the curled edges... so sew down the middle. it really depends how you want your quilt to look.

grammysharon

I agree with everyone, it is your choice whether you want it loose so the baby can play with the edges or big zigzag so it lays flat. I would use matching thread tho!!!!

onaemtnest

Ohhh I knew I'd get GREAT advice! Thanks to everyone that has 'helped' me. I'm so wanting this to turn out nice I've probably over thought it! I will probably use matching thread and just go down the center. I never gave it a thought that the baby would like the tactile of the curled edges. There is about 180" of rick rack so following the curves seems daunting for this project :0) Did I mention I want it done! :0)

onaemtnest

Jan in VA and other's helped me with the design of the sail boats last week and I'm pleased as punch (whatever 'pleased as punch really means?' :0)

I didn't have a lot of juvenile fabrics and since the rest of it is just patch work I'm hoping it looks boyish enough.

nativetexan

I was interested in this too. I have a quilt top somewhere that I plan to add jumbo rick rack to over every seam. Thanks.

JanTx

When I use jumbo rickrack I laborously go over every edge of it - top and bottom. I use the FMQ foot to do this. For smaller RR I zig down the middle then try to catch it in the quilting if necessary. I use matching thread color to sew it down, but the quilting may be done in a different color.
Next time - especially with the smaller ones - I'm going to go tactile and let it curl! (Not sure I want that look with the jumbo kind, though.)

Mine gets sewn on the top - before it's quilted. I don't usually quilt over it, but I have done so when I thought it needed tacked down a little more.

Here are some I've done with RR:

http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...y-t219595.html
http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...t-t197089.html