In article om,
"ukwildcatfan" wrote:

[shorten string of mini-lights]

The desire to shorten the length indicates you are outlining something.

In the case of a roof peak, attach the end of the light string at one end of
the feature and repeat with the other end.

The "overlap" (slack) of lights at the top of the peak can be neatly arranged
by back/overlapping so that portion of extra lights appears to be a "topper"
(finial?) or extra "snowpack" at the peak. (keystone?)

You will not find "dangling ends" of extra minis on a well done house outline
display.

Since minis are such a piece of crap, I won't use them in inaccessible places
such as those that required a LADDER to reach. On the house, I have always
used C9 intermediate base lights. The length of those strings are easily
shortened (or lengthened) and are MUCH more reliable than miniature lights.

The only thing I know about LED lights are that this is the FIRST time I've
seen them on store shelves and that they are (naturally) more expensive than
the incandescent equivalent that has been around for DECADES. If LED strings
are more reliable than minis, they might have a chance to make it as a viable
decoration technology.
--

JR