Yellow Rick Rack

Yellow Rick Rack

In this painting about home sewing, I used a fabric that is a reproduction from the 1950s. I laid out some pattern pieces from a Simplicity pattern for a little girl's dress. A Simplicity pattern at this time cost about fifty cents. The 1950s is regarded as sewing’s golden age even though the numbers waned a bit because the economy was booming and women could afford ready-mades again. But there was a strong focus on fashion sewing, designer patterns, and copying Hollywood looks. In some ways, sewing became more chic. In 1955, 52 million women and girls in the U.S. were sewing.

My inspiration for this painting was the Rick Rack. Rick Rack is a flat narrow braid woven in zigzag form, used as a trimming for clothing or curtains. Made of cotton or polyester, it is stitched or glued to the edges of an item. Its zigzag configuration repeats every third of an inch (about one centimeter) and is sold in multiple colors and textures. Rick Rack's popularity peaked in the 1970s and is associated with the Little House on the Prairie and the pioneer sentiment brought about by the 1976 American bicentennial.

The Many Names of Rick Rack

In the 1916 Needlecraft article, 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 Rich 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.

Oil on canvas board

14" X 11"

$770.00, plus shipping

Leighann Foster, foster3@gvtc.com

Website, www.leighannfoster.com

Find new and archival work.

Website, www.artistswhoteach.org

Artists Who Teach

Find an instructor and see great artwork.

Blog, www.leighannfoster.blogspot.com

Find drawings and paintings on SALE.