Any advice before I start this project?

[ardchoille]

I'm planning to make my own sporran. It'll be a pouch type sporran with drawstrings. I plan to include pockets for ID card and cell phone. I also want to include a short lanyard with a trigger snap for my keyring - I hate digging in the bottom of my sporran for my keys.

I've recently been learning how to work with leather and this is going to be my first custom sporran - my custom sporran strap was a complete success.

Any advice before I start?

[sharpdressedscot]

Use the force!!


Plan it out! I've worked leather before in my scout troop, it's not that hard you just need to be patient.

[ardchoille]

patient.

I was afraid someone would use that word

[sharpdressedscot]

I'm guessing you don't have any?

They sell it at my local store!

[Panache]

I have found when leather working that working with paper "mock up" first saves one lots of time and materials in the long run. When you get the paper one right you take it apart and use it as a pattern for the leather.

Believe it or not, the very first Freelander Sporran prototype was made out of a plastic garbage bag and a Spiderman party plate!

Cheers

Jamie

[pdcorlis]

Believe it or not, the very first Freelander Sporran prototype was made out of a plastic garbage bag and a Spiderman party plate!

Cheers

Jamie

And it looked Mahhhhvelous!

[Panache]

And it looked Mahhhhvelous!

David saves it for only the most special of occasions.

Cheers

Jamie

[ardchoille]

I have found when leather working that working with paper "mock up" first saves one lots of time and materials in the long run. When you get the paper one right you take it apart and use it as a pattern for the leather.

Cheers

Jamie

Excellent advice! Thank you Jamie

[alikws]

I've done a few Rob-Roy type sporrans. Leather is some soft split cowhide from some powwow years ago, flap was heavier top grain cow left over from knife sheathes. I traced the basic outline of a WPG canadian forces sporran onto beer-box type cardboard. I based the front stiffener off pictures of others found here. The rear stiffener/flap was one piece. The gusset is one piece, with no taper. The pouch front is 1/2 inch shorter then the back, with the gusset cut at an angle so the mouth of the pouch points forward. The stiffeners were tacked in place with contact cement. Holes were pre-punched with a pounded flat, then sharpened fork and hammer. The stiffener and top flap was saddle-stitched in place first, so the back of the flap is also a belt loop. The top stitching of the flap is about 1/2 inch below the top of the pouch, for cinch clearance. The Gusset was saddle stiched starting from the center out, back first, then front, while laid out inside out then the mouth trimmed on the side at an angle where the back is taller then the front. Next the whole thing was turned right side out. Holes were punched with hollow punch for cinch cord and button loop. The two outside strings are knotted, with fringed leather wrapped and tied, the two center are wrapped and stitched, then wrapped with a single piece of fringe tied on. This would be easier with pictures, I will have to work on it.

I have the crazy thought of making this a group project, like the 'x-kilt'

[ardchoille]

So how does the sewing work? Does one place all pieces together so that the sporran is inside out, then do the sewing and turn the sporran right side out? I'm a little hesitant to do all the sewing inside the sporran where I can't see what I'm doing. I just realized how much of a newbie I am to leather work.