Has anyone made their own flashes?

[OC Richard]

I would take that "hidden flashes" thing with a very big grain of salt!

It's merely fashion. The garters used to be tied around the outside, then they started rolling over the tops of the hose, but you could still see the garters hanging down.

By the mid-19th century most civilians didn't have any garters showing. The army still held on to old ways (as usual).

For some reason in the 20th century they became popular again with civilian kiltwearing.

Traditional garters and flashes, by the way, were (and are) made of worsted wool woven to the correct width, usually in a herringbone weave.

The idea of taking a piece of fabric yardage, and cutting and hemming flashes, is quite recent, I think. I have no such.

The wool yarn garters with the frayed/unwoven ends are borrowed from shooting socks but look great for Highland Dress.

But anyway yes I've made many flashes, back in the 1980s mostly, when I wanted certain colours. Now I just wear ordinary Shooting garters, they come in a set with one pair of elastic garters and four pairs of flashes in various colours.

19th century full tied garters, with the cuffs turned over but the garters still visible (1846)



Civilians in the 1860s showing a range from ornate costume to quite plain outdoor dress, no flashes at all



By the 1920s Highland Dress had become more systematised, and with flashes for all modes



Traditional flashes made from worsted wool tape woven to the correct width in a herringbone weave