The
Many Names of Rick Rack
Friends,
I've just done some research
on rick rack(yes, I have too much time on my
hands) today. I thought you'd be interested to know that yes, rick rack
as we know
it was used during the Civil War period only it was called waved braid
back
then. In fact, many handy ladies who knew how to crochet with tiny thread
and a
little hook used waved braid as a base and trimmed the braiding on both
sides with crocheted lace, making a flat braid trim with the "rick
rack" in the
middle. Also, if the waved braid was large, they might also have used
that to
embroider on.
So not only is rick rack correct for us to use, we can, if we have the
time
and inclination, embellish it further.
I doubt that crocheting lace on rick rack will become a new hobby for
me,
but it is nice to know that we can sew rick rack on our dresses with
reckless
abandon if desired. Just thought you'd like to know.
Just a little history trivia: In 1916
Needlecraft articles, the word is
rickrack, another 1916 pattern book says rick rack and today, the trim
packaging
also shows it split into two words "rick rack". You'll sometimes
see it spelled
ric rac. Go back to the 1800s and you would be crocheting on a variation
called waved braid. By 1916, they had dropped the "d" to make
this wave braid. In
the late 1800s and early 1900s, it was also called zigzag braid, snake
braid
and corrugated braid.
There, more than you ever wanted to
know about rick rack.
Judy, Feb 19, 2004