Geri B

It's the old stuff made of cotton that has a shrinking prob..new stuff is synthetic

Onebyone

I use fusible rick rack on projects and haven't had a problem with it curling up. I use fusible bias tape too.

tellabella

If it's small I go done the middle...

nativetexan

i have some fairly large ric rack for a quilt and i soaked it and laid it out to dry. I will probably sew it on the sides since it's not the skinny kind.

tessagin

People laughed at me when I told them I prewash everything in my sewing room, right down to the trim like ric rac . I just wrap it around my 4 fingers like you would wrap extra trim. Then I put a couple loose stitches in it of embroidery thread then tie the ends. I do this in a couple areas of the wrap so it doesn't tangle. This holds it together. I then put it into a laundry bag. I don't mix lights and darks same as I don't mix lights and darks fabrics. Some trim will bleed. Toss into the dryer. If need be I use a pressing cloth and warm iron. I have done cotton lace trim this way.

ManiacQuilter2

I always use rick rack on quilts and I just sew right down the middle. I love doing the curved borders because the rick rack makes the application so easy.

sash

Just finished making baby bibs and put rick rack on it and sewed each side down following the rick rack edge. Back looked good too. It was a large rick rack (not the widest) and it worked out really good. Didn't want to go down middle, didn't want it curling.

bearisgray

Haven't checked out the new rick-rack, but I DO know that the cotton-polyester bias tape will shrink after it has been soaked in hot water. (Purchased last spring).

I measured it before and after. It shrank about one inch per yard.

Cari-in-Oly

That's really pretty. I want to try a curved border someday.

Cari

JanieH

I am so glad indysheart asked this question. I have avoided using rick rack in projects because I hated how it curled up on dresses my mother made for me when I was a little girl back in the 50's. Never thought about it shrinking and needing to wash it first or tacking down the points or the other hints given here.

Guess this has been my DUH moment for the day!