Sporran refurb

**Taskr** · 26th December 16, 01:02 AM

I bought one of the plain Scot Shop sporrans from the kilt shop that made my first kilt about three years ago. It was good enough but wasn't worn much after a more recent purchase. And also did not like the tapping of the tassels whilst walking. It was one of these:

Over time I acquired a mink remnant, a retired purse, a chain necklace from a thrift shop and dismantled a retired wallet.

The original tassels were pulled from their rivets. The rivets are left in place as they don't interfere with anything - plus they are in there for good! The gusset was removed from the back of the sporran for access to the front so that the mink could be sewn on. I did not use any glue, but instead placed a few holding stiches in a random pattern. While the sporran was apart, lining from the retired purse was added to the back, and later to the front after all the tassel work was complete. Glue was used. The flap had a simple thread stitched along the edge. It was given a leather finished edge from the old wallet. Here's the lining on the finished refurb and a look at the old wallet leather now edging the top flap.

The tassels were made by cutting wallet leather rectangles in strips to a measured point and then rolling it tightly around a fine chain. A very thin leather strip cut on the edge of the piece was passed through a chain link to secure it. To provide symmetry each chain was made to be four links from the top of the tassel.

The rolled tassel was then wrapped with canvas maker thread and tied off

Not having much joy in finding a thrift tassel cap, I wrapped a small piece of heavier chain around the top of the tassel and secured it with a tied join with and over the knot of the canvas maker thread. A spot of glue was placed on the trimmed knot for security. It was important to ensure the chain link had the join gap turned to the opposite direction, lest the thread simply pass through it.

The short chain of the tassel was connected to a larger chain set up in a triangle pattern passed through carefully made slits in the mink and using the three holes of the original tassels of the original sporran face behind the mink. The chain is secured in place using stiff wire linking all three points. The lining covers all of that (I should have taken a pic)

The outer tassels had a few possibilities on the chain. After lots of Net image surfing I settled on the inner line of chain hanging freely rather than forming a straight line. This is the result, with the gusset re-attached just before, and sporran worn for, Christmas dinner.

I still want a targe over the original closure snap but I've not found anything yet. Metal would be good, but might settle for engraved leather. (ed: Feb 10, 2017. Found one!!)

The appeal to me in doing the refurb was to allow a very plain sporran a second chance. The mink remnant was free and a perfect size. There was miniscule trimming for shape. The wallet was practically free, it had been replaced quite a while ago but the leather had character so I kept it 'just in case'. The thrift store chain necklace had three link sizes and there is still a lot left over. It was about $9 Cdn. The retired purse that gave up some lining was gratis (that leather and remainder of lining is destined for a sporran). So for little $, some goodwill, time and a bit of patience I think it was worth it.
I keep learning new things about order of fabrication and methods for getting things done well. Also identifying which tools will be the more important to make the next project better.