Flashes, a how-to pictorial

[The F-H.C.A.G.]

Part 2 continues

Fold the top over the elastic and sew it, making sure to leave enough room between your line of stitching and the elastic, that it can slide fairly easily. I sewed across, then turned around and sewed back again, to be sure it is good and strong.



Then, I slid it off the elastic and trimmed the bottom



Cut a little triangle out of the bottom, so it looks like a nice pretty ribbon edge. You could cut any sort of pattern you want here-this one is pretty standard, but another pattern that is fun, is to cut each part of the flashes, so that as a whole you get this pattern. Or do the opposite and get a spear point. Again, whatever you want-go crazy



Now this stuff is very important-Fray Check, so the bottom does not unravel. This stuff is basically nail polish I think (I remember using nail polish on my nylons in high school when I got a run, but I imagine most of you guys have not had that experience )



More...

Be well,

[The F-H.C.A.G.]

Part 2, final

Cut out patches of velcro-I used fairly small ones, because these flashes are for a 6 year old and are therefore fairly light and on fairly thin elastic. You may want to use wider and/or longer strips of velcro. Make sure you put the prepared flashes on the elastic BEFORE you sew on the velcro, because the velcro will tear at the fabric if you try to slide them over it.



Sew on the velcro. Velcro and elastic both seem to make my sewing machine have a bit of a breakdown (it's an old and cheap machine), but by playing with the thread tension and stitch length, I finally got it not to bunch up.



Sew across the flashes, so they don't slide apart, but don't include the elastic in this stitch, because when it stretches, it will gap



Here they are. You probably can't tell from this picture, but make sure that the hook part of the velcro faces out (true, it can still catch on the hose where you fold them over, but at least it won't irritate the calf, or catch on the hose against the leg). They look damp on the ends from the Fray Check, but that goes away as it dries.



One last post-pictures on the boy...

Be well,

[The F-H.C.A.G.]

Step 3: Put them on your son and go drink beer at the Devil's Canyon with a bunch of other X-Markers.

I chased the poor boy around with the camera all night and this is the best picture of the flashes I could get.



So there you have it, hope this was more than just tedious!

Be well,

[Fearnest]

SUPER detailed pics that will make it simple to replicate - muitos obrigados!

[ccga3359]

We now no longer have excuses for flubbing flashes. Thanks F-H.C.A.G.

[Perldog007]

-Fray Check, so the bottom does not unravel. This stuff is basically nail polish I think (I remember using nail polish on my nylons in high school when I got a run, but I imagine most of you guys have not had that experience )

Of course not, any kind of real man would use duct tape if he had a run in the nylon department......

Seriously, great thread and much appreciated.

[gilmore]

Thanks so much for posting this thread. It's so helpful to see it in photos.

[prb]

When making flashes, I omit the velcro entirely, and just stitch the elastic into a loop. Unless you are a body builder with thundering calves, this shouldn't be a problem (I am a cross-country runner, so my calves are not insignificant).

[benkilt]

lovely job, keep up the good work, all the best