We recently showed how to secure rickrack ends in your projects. This week, we will talk about how to navigate corners and join ends.
With corners, the biggest problem is keeping the rickrack aligned. Bonnie likes to use Wash Away Wonder Tape, originally by Collins and now by Dritz, which is a double-sided tape you can finger-press in place. It won’t gum up your needles and eventually washes away. So much easier than pinning or basting, you apply it to one side of the rickrack to help with positioning.
Bonnie likes to have the hill part of her rickrack facing out of the corners. As you go around the corners, you will have a bit of excess rickrack at the corners that you can fold over and stitch down.
If the corner comes out less-than-stellar, just add a button to cover it up.
Joining Rickrack Ends
Allow yourself an extra couple of inches on either end of the rickrack to play with. Finishing at a halfway point of either a hill or a valley works best. Don't cut right up to the edge join; leave yourself about a quarter-inch to turn before burning the edges.
Bonnie turned rickrack under at half-way points on two hills. Once you have it figured out where you want it, trim off the excess, seal edges with a lighter, and stich in place.
See how Bonnie created the Canister Wrap here. Get more tips in Bonnie’s video, Ins and Outs of Rickrack.
Debbie Henry
Sew Inspired by Bonnie
Debbie Henry - July 09, 2024
Thanks, Sharon! Bonnie showed how to seal with a lighter in her first rickrack blog – it works great, doesn’t it?
Sharon Schroeter - July 08, 2024
Great tips—thank you! Also I didn’t know you could seal the edges with a lighter!