How do I Make Flashes from Kilt Material?

[sorcererdale]

I am not having good things happen right now. Since I need a belt for my new sporran and tartan kilt, I was going to have my wife pick one up when she went shopping today. She just called and said she is tired and crabby and is coming home. No belt.

I do have an old belt that is narrow and will probably work, but it is too short. She told me to figure out how to fix that and make it work. It may just be electrical tape or some sort of rivet, but it won't be adjustable. One end has snaps that hold the buckle part so I can use that end. So I should be able to do something with it.

My main question is this - I got some extra material for flashes out of the tartan from my kilt, but now my wife doesn't want to sew any more before Christmas. I am willing to try and get these flashes made myself, but I think the material will just ravel if I cut flash shapes out of it.

Does anyone know if the edges have to be hemmed and sewn, or just sew along the edges? I have been waiting for so long for this tartan kilt and want to look nice for Christmas eve church and going to our relatives. I have seen her sew with the machine, so I will do my best. I hope the bobbin thread is black as I don't know how to change that.

Wish me luck and if any one has answers, it would be appreciated.

Thanks.

DALE.

[Panache]

Dale,

My wife has made me a number of neat flashes, and I have made myself one pair (so it can be done by those who are less than skilled with needle and thread).

Tartan flashes require more steps to make than simple grossgrain ribbon ones. I don't know how to make them and they require more skill than I possess at sewing. If you have limited material and aren't quite sure of your skills I recommend making ribbon flashes now (which will look very nice) and save the tartan ones for your wife to construct. You will need to go to the Fabric Shop anyway, so get some ribbon that matches a stripe in the kilt. Perhaps one of the smaller stripes to bring out the color in your outfit.

For Grossgrain Ribbon Flashes:

Materials

Elastic Band (approximately 16 inches, 8" per flash- depending on your calves)
Narrow Velcro OR two small vest buckles
Grossgrain ribbon 1"wide (About 40", 10" per each ribbon)
Bottle of Fray Check (A light glue that helps prevent fraying-ESSENTIAL!)

Tools

Iron
Needle and thread


(1) Cut the ribbon into 4 lengths of 10"

(2) Fold each each length in half

(3) Iron the fold at the top of each ribbon to make the crease flat

(4) Take the top piece of each ribbon and fold that edge up in half (better if you fold in under the top side so the edge is under the fold)

(5) Iron the fold at the top of the ribbon to make the crease flat

At this point you will look down at each ribbon and see a 5 inch long piece of ribbon with a double folded 2 1/2" piece of ribbon on the top of each.

(6) Using scissors cut a small triangle (pointing up) out of the bottom edge of the bottom 5" long piece of ribbon for each.

(7) Apply a small amount of the Fray Check to the cut edges of the triangle and let dry

(8) Measure and cut the elastic to your leg (have your kilt hose on!)

(9) Sew either the vest buckle of the velcro to the end /ends of the elastic

(10) Line up the top of the ribbon to the top of the elastic (at the center). Sew the top of first ribbon to the elastic. The elastic side is next to your leg with the ribbon outside. Then sew the second one next to the first. Repeat on the second flash. (Neatness isn't important here as no one will see this part of the flash.

That's All!

A recommendation: Cut out a 10 inch long, 1 inch wide strip of paper and lay it out, fold and make the triangle cut first so you have a model of what you want the ribbon to look like. Remember "measure twice, cut once".

I hope this was of some help.

Merry Christmas

[McMurdo]

I dont think you need to hem them, sewing along the edge should be fine.
Mine are not even sewn but they are a solid ribbon not tartan, so that might be the difference. For Christmas I would be tempted to just cut them out so that I could wear them, and worry about sewing them later.

I found this on a listing on ebay:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
THE FLASHES ARE MOUNTED ON 1" (3CM) WIDE WHITE ELASTIC WITH VELCRO ADJUSTERS AND FIT ALL SIZES

THE BACK OF THE FLASH HAS A STRIP OF FUSING ON IT TO GIVE IT STIFFNESS TO STOP IT FLAPPING
-----------------------------------------------------------------

I Hope that helps.

[Panache]

... For Christmas I would be tempted to just cut them out so that I could wear them, and worry about sewing them later...

McMurdo,

I respectfully disgree. To simply cut them out to get by for one wearing would remove material that Dale will need later.

Cheers

[McMurdo]

Panache,
Good point had not thought of that,
I will defer to your expertise.

You might want to check out this thread as it has a great picture of flashes Hamish made

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=17851

[Panache]

...I do have an old belt that is narrow and will probably work, but it is too short. She told me to figure out how to fix that and make it work. It may just be electrical tape or some sort of rivet, but it won't be adjustable. One end has snaps that hold the buckle part so I can use that end. So I should be able to do something with it.

Dale,

I would just wear the chain belt for a day or two and not stress about the belt right now. I plan on wearing my chain belt with my formal outfit for Burn's Night. They look quite smart and are appropriate for formal occassions.
Long term use will damage your kilt so just switch it out for a leather one for day to day wear after the Holiday.

Again

Merry Christmas

[sorcererdale]

I have plenty of material, so if I goof, no problem. We live too far from a store so that is why my wife was shopping today. I won't be going into a town until after Christmas. I will figure out something, I always do. I was just frustrated when she called.

You'll see pictures after Christmas.

DALE.

[McMurdo]

Looking forward to it, good luck on the flashes.

[Panache]

... I won't be going into a town until after Christmas..

Very wise, I did my last Holiday grocery shopping today at 6:15 AM to avoid the crowds.

I will figure out something, I always do. ..

We X Markers are a resourcefull lot!

I was just frustrated when she called...

It's nice to have a place to vent and get a little help. I'm sure nobody here at X Marks the Scot has had to deal with a crabby significant other.

... You'll see pictures after Christmas.

DALE.

Looking forward to them!

Cheers

[chasem]

I made a set of flashes to go with the last kilt I made. It wasn't as hard as I'd expected.

I cut a strip a little over twice as wide as I wanted each individual strip to be - with the desired stripe centered - folded them in half, and sewed it together along the long open side. Turned it inside out (sew that the stitching would be inside) centered the stripe, and pressed.

After pressing, I folded the top over the appropriate amount, and sewed it down to form the loop. I then cut the upside down v-shape out of the bottom and slid them onto the velcro. They're working great for me, but I'm trying to decide what I would do slightly different next time.