Frugal flashes

[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.

[Kilted in Maine]

Surprisingly enough, that does make sense. I read it quickly and it did not a first but read slowly picturing what you were doing and I understood.

Another question, does tension on the yarn give a tighter weave or does it matter?

[turpin]

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.

That's a similar method to making a replacement toorie for your balmoral when the dog eats the original.

[James MacMillan]

Surprisingly enough, that does make sense. I read it quickly and it did not a first but read slowly picturing what you were doing and I understood.

Another question, does tension on the yarn give a tighter weave or does it matter?

I haven't experimented that much, but as you are knitting you (I) tend to pull the yarn tight as I go. The spacing of the pegs pretty much defines the finished tightness of the strap part.

The links to the tutorial videos that I posted above are pretty good also.

[James MacMillan]

That's a similar method to making a replacement toorie for your balmoral when the dog eats the original.

Right - you would just use much more yarn, and then trim it with more care, so it is round. I had to do this because of a curious cat once.

You called it a toorie? I thought it was a pom. (like in pom-pom?)

[starbkjrus]

...snip

You called it a toorie? I thought it was a pom. (like in pom-pom?)

toh-MA-toh toh-MAH-toh

[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.

[Moosedog]

Jay,

Thanks for posting the photos...Those little knitters are great! I have made several pairs of garters/flashes using one. Easier, but not quite as fun, as the old "nail-in-the wooden-bobbin" setup...I just used a crochet hook to make a tassle of the desired length at the ends.

Moosedog

[Bugbear]

Jay,

Thanks for posting the photos...Those little knitters are great! I have made several pairs of garters/flashes using one. Easier, but not quite as fun, as the old "nail-in-the wooden-bobbin" setup...I just used a crochet hook to make a tassle of the desired length at the ends.

Moosedog

Moosedog! When I lived with my grandmother as a little kid, we used to do that "nail-in-the wooden-bobbin" knitting a lot. You just brought back a bunch of memories. Thanks!