How to Sew Ric Rac Trim (4 Easy Ways + Video)

Learn all about sewing ric rac trim with this easy beginner tutorial. Ric rac (also spelled rick rack or ric-rac) is a colorful zig-zag trim that instantly adds vintage charm and decorative detail to clothing, crafts, and home sewing projects. In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to sew ric rac trim in several ways, including sewing ric rac on top of fabric, inserting it into seams, sewing around corners, and adding it to finished edges. Once you master these simple techniques, ric rac becomes an easy way to brighten dresses, cushions, bags, tea towels, and more.

What Is Ric Rac?

Ric rac is a sewing trim shaped in a zig-zag or waved pattern. Ric rac can be made of cotton and of vintage quality, or it can be poly-cotton or even nylon.  There are various widths, from jumbo to mini, and because it is woven, it has a bit of stretch, enabling it to be an easy-to-use option. Ric rac is commonly used on clothing, crafts, cushions, quilts, and decorative home sewing projects. Once you have mastered the basic techniques for sewing ric rac, you can experiment with different items that would benefit from a bright trim.

Sewing Ric Rac 4 Different Ways

Ric-rac, rick rac or rick rack. It doesn’t matter how you spell it; ric rac is one of the brightest and most beautiful trims of our time. Simple but by no means plain, ric rac adds color and a sassy edge to all sorts of creations. Sewing trim ric rac is easy – it can even be braided for additional color and texture.

Here is a video I made for you showing you the different ways to sew ric-rac. Please subscribe to the Treasurie YouTube channel where I post weekly sewing and craft videos.

There are 4 main techniques you will need to sew ric rac successfully. They are:

1. On top of the fabric.
2. Into a seam.
3. Sewing around corners.
4. Behind the finished edge of an article, for example, a pocket.

1. How to Sew Ric Rac on Top of Fabric

Pre-wash or press the ric rac if necessary. Vintage cotton ric rac may shrink and need pressing, but the poly/cotton and nylon versions are generally ready to use.

You will need a line to follow when stitching the ric rac on top of your fabric. Draw this with a fabric pen and then sew the ric rac on top of the line. Stitch down the center.

If the ends are to be enclosed in a seam, then the ric rac does not need any trimming or neatening. Where the ends of the ric rac will be visible, you can seal the ends with a stop fray solution. Ric rac can be sewn on to disguise the line of stitching made by stitching a hem in place. Put ric rac over the top and follow the stitch line.

2. Adding Ric-Rac into a Seam

The line through the center of the ric rac will determine the amount of the ric rac that will show on the outside after the seam is complete. Wider trim will mean that more is visible after it has been sewn into the seam.

1. Mark a line down the center of the ric rac and then line it up with the seam stitching line on the RIGHT side of the fabric. Pin it in place.

2. Machine baste along this line.

3. Put the other piece of fabric right side together and complete the seam by sewing along the basted line.

4. Turn the fabric to the right side and the ric rac will show between the seam.

3. Sewing Ric Rac around Corners

Fortunately, ric rac has a bit of stretch because it is a woven braid, and this allows it to be eased into different spaces. To go around a corner it is best to pin in the ric rac from both sides and allow a little extra braid to fold at the corners. Create a small fold and turning point to ease round the corner.

It is advisable to baste it in place and then sew from the right side. Use your needle to pivot and turn if necessary.

4. Sewing Ric Rac Behind a Finished Edge

Choose your finished edge, a pocket or yoke edge, for example. Work from the wrong side and pin the ric rac in place. Allow extra trim to turn in for neatening.

Pin or baste in place and turn over and stitch on the right side before adding the finished piece to the garment.

Tips for Sewing Ric Rac

Now you have mastered the basics of sewing ric-rac, here are some tips to add some extra pizazz to your projects.

• Sew several rows of ric rac using its unique wavy pattern to guide each row.
• Take two pieces of ric rac and weave them together along the wavy line, and you will have a beautiful braid to work with.
• Use Ric rac to trim cushions, tea towels, serviettes, and tablecloths – in fact, just about anything you can think of that needs uplifting could be a candidate for a ric rac transformation.

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Sewing Ric Rac FAQs

In Conclusion

Ric rac is one of the easiest decorative trims and adds instant personality to your projects. Whether you stitch it onto fabric surfaces or insert it into seams, this colorful zig-zag trim creates a playful vintage-inspired finish that never goes out of style. Once you start sewing with ric rac, you’ll find endless ways to add color, texture, and decorative detail to your handmade projects.

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