Tuesday, January 17, 2023

Vintage Crochet - Some Pretty "RickRack Trims from 1916, Part 1

 I have a stack of teens and early 20's Needlecraft magazines and unfortunately several of them are in shreds and almost too fragile to scan.  These photos are from an article in the May, 1916 issue of Needlecraft magazine, and the accompanying article explained how to create inexpensive novelty trims using crochet and ricrac braid. 

Trim #1:

"A very simple needlepoint edging of 'ye olden time' is made as follows:

1. Count 6 points, join 1st and last by sewing, then draw the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th close together to form a point.

2. Count 5 points (on outside), join first 2, then draw next 3 together.

Repeat these 2 rows to required length."

Trim #2:

"The horseshoe pattern is an old and a favorite one for rickrack trimming.  It may be made as wide as desired, and serves prettily as an "allover" design for yokes, cushion-covers, etc; may also be used as an insertion, the lace to match having a crocheted chin along one edge to sew on by.

1. Fasten thread with  a double in point of braid, chain 3, *a treble in next point, chain 1, repeat from * until you have taken up 15 points of braid, turn.

2. Same as 2nd row, joining to top of 3 chain at beginning of 2nd row to form a circle, chain 8, fasten in 2 points next above circle, taking them together with 1 double, chain 4, connect next 2 points in the same manner, chain 14, a double in point opposite the 2nd treble of 1st row.  This completes the 'horseshoe.' Repeat from the beginning until you have the desired length."

From The Renaissance of Rickrack, by Adelaide Carr Baker.

Caveat: I have not attempted to translate this into modern crochet terms because...I don't crochet.  However, I did figure out that whenever Mrs Baker refers to point, she's referring to the point of the ricrac.

I wonder if it would be possible to do Trim #1 using a sewing machine, as it is a cute little trim. I will post the final two patterns next Tuesday.





1 comment:

Sam said...

I bet making Trim #1 by hand would be easier than trying to pin the braid in place to machine sew it.