Your flashes

**Jewddha** · 1st May 06, 07:40 AM

So, I know that a number of folks on this board have made their own flashes. This is something we will have in common, once I get around to making mine. I was actually hoping to avoid some of the trial and error through your advice! (I'll just put these in bullet point so I don't have to worry about grammar)
-Width of elastic (1/2", 3/4", 1"??)
-Closure (velcro, snap, buckle??)
-Rigidity (plastice canvas backing, double thickness fabric, nothing??)
-Size of flashes (width and length)

That's all I've got right now, thanks in advance!

**Panache** · 1st May 06, 08:37 AM

Originally Posted by Jewddha

So, I know that a number of folks on this board have made their own flashes. This is something we will have in common, once I get around to making mine. I was actually hoping to avoid some of the trial and error through your advice! (I'll just put these in bullet point so I don't have to worry about grammar)
-Width of elastic (1/2", 3/4", 1"??)
-Closure (velcro, snap, buckle??)
-Rigidity (plastice canvas backing, double thickness fabric, nothing??)
-Size of flashes (width and length)

That's all I've got right now, thanks in advance!

My lovely wife made a bunch for me. Here's what she did:

3/4" wide elastic

1/2" wide velcro

1 1/2" wide ribbon

Each flash has two sets of ribbons, a longer one in back (about 5 1/2"), a shorter in front (4").
The ends of each ribbon are finished with a < cut. The ends are treated with Dritz Fray Check to keep them from fraying. She made flashes where both sets of ribbons are the same color and some really nifty ones where the longer ribbons in back were different colors than the short front ones.

She used a sewing machine to put it all together in minutes, but you can do the same thing by hand it will just take longer.

They hang just great and I wouldn't recommend putting any type of stiff backing material on them

I hope this is of some help.

Cheers

**Tartan Hiker** · 1st May 06, 08:48 AM

Mine are almost exactly the same, but I use 1" elastic. Also, instead of fray- check I grab a 1" x 1/2" piece of aluminum flashing with a pair of pliers, heat it with a torch, and singe the cut edges. Makes a quick, neat finish that will not fray and avoids the discoloration that happens if you get carried away with the fray-check liquid.

**Southern Breeze** · 1st May 06, 09:04 AM

I make mine almost the same way Panache posted. If I use tartan I fold it over so it's doubled. I've also found that spray starch is a good way to stiffen both old and new flashes.

**sorcererdale** · 1st May 06, 09:19 AM

I just had mine made with a strip of velcro sewn right onto the ribbons. I just tuck them under the fold of the kilt hose and don't really need the elastic to hold them up. The hose stay up just from being folded over and so I just tuck the flashes under the fold.

DALE.

**KiltedCodeWarrior** · 1st May 06, 09:57 AM

Panache,

Those sound nice. Can you post some pics of the ones that use 2 different colors?

**Panache** · 1st May 06, 11:13 AM

KiltedCodeWarrior wrote: Those sound nice. Can you post some pics of the ones that use 2 different colors?

KCW,

Walkerk posted a link to his photo gallery from our Bay Area Kilt Night last friday. I wish I knew how to set up a link to that thread. It's under the forum "Kilt Nights", the thread is "Belmont (CA) Kilt Night, Last Friday of April"

There is one pretty good picture of a set of flashes my wife made me to go with my SWK Standard Hunting McCleod (I'm the one wearing my new gray tweed coat and the McCleod)

Those particular flashes use a smaller ribbon (3/4") for the red and yellow, and then the single blue ribbon in the back has the larger width. I don't know if it's traditional or not but I think they look really sharp.

I'll send Walkerk a PM to see if he would post that picture here.

Cheers

**KiltedCodeWarrior** · 1st May 06, 01:47 PM

Panache,

Missed the link before. For those that don't want to track it down, here is the pic in question. I have to admit, the multi-colored flashes do bring out the color in the tartan nicely.

**Paco500** · 1st May 06, 05:26 PM

I just made some for an event this weekend. Used felt as I could find no ribbon or fabric that matched my saffron kilt. Worked pretty well and looked good.

I used 1" elastic sewn into a ring slid the whole thing up like a garter. I bought velcro, but I was in a time crunch so saved a few steps. I had planned to add velcro later, but this worked, so I'm leaving them.

There are 4 strips, 2 shorter ones, (3" long, cut straight across the bottom) and 2 longer ones (5", cut into upside-down "V" on the bottom). The short stacked on long and the two stacks side by side.