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Vintage Details: Ric-rac vines

You know I love those vintage surface details. They often look so luxurious, but when you break them down, they’re not hard to do. Often they involve making some bias tape, cording, or piping and sewing it on in an ingenious way.

But this one looks even easier than most! At first glance, it looks to be made with ric-rac. Upon closer inspection, I’m not 100% sure that it’s ric-rac, and not some other trim sewn in a wave pattern. But nevertheless, it would certainly work in ric-rac, don’t you think?

I’ve always thought ric-rac looked so cutesy, but this is actually quite elegant. The deep stormy blue color helps too. I just think this vine pattern is really amazing.

The original vintage dress was found on Ebay from the lovely Mill Street Vintage.

Sarai Mitnick

Founder

Sarai started Colette back in 2009. She believes the primary role of a business should be to help people. She loves good books, sewing with wool, her charming cats, working in her garden, and eating salsa.

Comments

Casey

February 10, 2010 #

Oh wow! I too have always thought rick-rack (or trim in that style ;) was more cutesy than elegant, but in this application it defies the cute classification. Love it! Thank you for sharing this bit of inspiration–I always love seeing what you dig up!

Casey
blog | elegantmusings.com

Courtney

February 10, 2010 #

This took me by surprise—I have always had a strong aversion to ric-rac (it makes me think of ugly clown costumes), but I agree that it looks amazingly elegant in this context. Thanks for the post!

PatternJunkie

February 10, 2010 #

Count me in with the “wow — who knew rick rack could be elegant?” group. What an amazing dress!

Lindsey M Nelson

February 10, 2010 #

PERFECT! I actually have a lot of ric-rac I would like to use without making tons of vintage-inspired aprons :)

Brieanne

February 10, 2010 #

Oh my gosh, what a good idea. I’ve always been a bit puzzled over ric-rac. I’m drawn to it, but like you said…it feels too cutesy when you’re trying to design with it. This makes it graphic and interesting.

Shona

February 10, 2010 #

brilliant idea, and yes, quite easy to do. Thank you!

Yellie

February 11, 2010 #

I very much like the pattern, but to me, the ribbon still has that ric-rac effect. Probably because my mum went crazy once with ric-rac on several of my dresses. Hello Holly Hobby!

But still the suggestion brings a great idea for the yards and yards of antique (delicate & sheer) ribbon that’s buried in my stash.

M

February 11, 2010 #

Pretty….I’d just temporarily tack down the rick-rack with KK2000 and sew away. Rick-rack is an amazingly versatile trim…very popular in the 1930s and then again in the 1950s. I want to try some of the stretch rick-rack that’s out there on t-shirts, etc.

jaime

February 11, 2010 #

This is the best looking use of ricrac I have ever seen.

marietweet

February 11, 2010 #

Wow, I love it!

Brook Owens

February 11, 2010 #

that is lovely…. Im surprised they didn’t stitch the ric rac on with a zig zag stitch… or else it curls up.

clf

February 15, 2010 #

[Insert expletive] amazing!! Just wow.
I have a nice collection of vintage rickrack that I’ve been wanting to use. Will definitely try something like this.

Sabina

September 16, 2010 #

I love it! What is the collar on the dress called?

Make handmade

August 12, 2011 #

Cute dress for women and more. i like it, thanks