My first attempt

**ABG0819** · 1st April 10, 10:05 PM

I decided to try to make my own flashes...this is the result with a little help from my beloved.

Any comments or advice is welcome

Graham

**Chas** · 2nd April 10, 03:01 AM

Hi Graham,

Well done on your first attempt. I think you made a wise choice, going for a non-tartan fabric. Gives you the freedom to swap and change flashes with different kilts. It also gives you a new hobby - you will be forever fondling fabric and thinking 'Can I make this into flashes?'

Regards

Chas

**OC Richard** · 2nd April 10, 04:16 AM

those look very nice, quite professional.

Next, if you want, you can experiment with adding loops. Each segment can have a single loop, or even a triple loop etc.

Over the years I've often made flashes when I couldn't find the exact colour I was after. I made white flashes for my wedding outfit.

**BEEDEE** · 2nd April 10, 05:59 AM

I would have had the two flashes just touching in the middle. Otherwise, a great job.

Brian

**ABG0819** · 2nd April 10, 07:01 AM

My kilt is solid black and the gold flashes are going to be worn with green hose for now. As in my avatar I have a green and gold shirt I wear quite often with my kilt, so thus the choice of colors. Thanks for the compliments and the advice. As I said it is only a first attempt. I actually used liquid stitch because I don't sew, but that may have to change. I want to get them stitched into place to make them a little more solid.

Graham

**OC Richard** · 4th April 10, 05:46 AM

Wearing Highland Dress has made me get fairly handy with a needle and thread: making flashes, sewing in pleats on a full plaid, moving straps and buckles around on a kilt as I expand and contract, sewing up pleats on old kilts where the pleat stitching has come out, sewing on buttons, sewing bows or rosettes on caps or kilts, etc etc.

I've even made a few bagcovers over the years, completely handsewn because I don't know how to operate a sewing machine.

My most ambitious projects were jackets: back in the 70's when I was just getting into this stuff and had zero money, I converted a tweed jacket I got for $5 at Goodwill into a kilt jacket complete with cuffs and epaulettes, and converted a navy blue blazer into a full dress military doublet with Inverness tashes, cuffs, epaulettes, and military standing collar, all sewn by hand.