Frugal flashes

[James MacMillan]

I’ve been curious about the wrap around hose flashes for awhile, and I tried to make my own as posted ..here.., but I really didn’t like the results that much. The tape that I used wasn’t really that flexible, and the comfort was lacking.

So I again looked at the wrap around flashes that were offered at different locations, but couldn’t bring myself to pay the $35 plus dollars for what is essentially just a strip of cloth. So I tried knitting my own. My results were also unusable. While I was taught knitting as therapy while in the hospital recovering from wounds, I never got to be that good at it. My stitches were un-even, and the tension was not regular. So I kept on looking.

The other day, while wondering around in a hobby shop, I saw the below. Perfect I thought! I bought one, took it home and in less than a half hour, after spending less than $7 (for the gadget and two things of yarn) I have some knitted wrap around flashes. Here's the green ones.

[Jeff]

That is great I may look into these as well. Thanks for the info.

[Erisianmonkey]

Wow! Those look really cool! The machine does too. I may eventually have to see about getting one of those myself.

[Sheep In Wolf's Clothing]

Neat! Do they work and keep your hose up?
Sara

[James MacMillan]

Neat! Do they work and keep your hose up?
Sara

I've only used these for two days, but so far so good! Several of the members use the store bought, expensive models and seem to really like them. I made three colors - red, green, tan - so I'm going to give them a good test. Matt sells the manufactured models for $25 and $35 depending on length ..here.. .

There appear to be several varieties and web sites like ..here.. .

And I found these neat tutorials ..Here.. and ..Here..

[Kilted in Maine]

How did you do the tassel ends?

[James MacMillan]

How did you do the tassel ends?

What I did, and I'm sure there would be many ways to do it, was to fold an index card to the width that I wanted. I held the card at the end of the knitted part. Then with a threaded length of yarn, start to wind it around the card, poking the needle through the end of the knitted part on each revolution.

When I had enough, I took several tight loops around the place where the tassel and knitted part meet. Poked the needle through several times to secure it, knotted it a few times, and cut the ends.

I'll try and remember to take some flix when I make the next pair, if that isn't clear enough.

[Oldhiker]

Jay, please post a picture of them in use.
thanks

[cacunn]

Neat! Do they work and keep your hose up?
Sara

With flashes think of dropping a ring over a Coke bottle. If the ring is large enough to fit over the top/mouth of the bottle but smaller than the body of the bottle the ring will not fall past the neck of the coke bottle. This is the same principle with flashes. Flashes do not have to be tight, they only have to be smaller than the top of the calf. Elastic banded flashes do not need to be any tighter than to put enough tension on clip to prevent opening.

With these types of ties they only should be tight enough to create enough friction to prevent the ties from untying. As long as they don't stretch during the day the smaller ring formed at the top of the calf should not be able to expand over the bigger ring of the body of the calf.

If you check I would give you odds that the average person wears their flashes to tight and limits the circulation in the legs.

Loosen up out there and take it easy.

[davedove]

If you check I would give you odds that the average person wears their flashes to tight and limits the circulation in the legs.

I know that was true of me when I tried to wear the standard flashes with the elastic band, because they just weren't big enough. I let it out to its biggest setting and it was still too tight. Now, if I want to wear that kind of flash, I have a second set of elastic bands where I removed the flashes. I hook two bands together for each leg.

Now, with the ones you tie, I pull them snug, but not tight. They work great.