ARGH! Sporran woes!

[BLAZN]

Ok... so, I see works of art like this:



and like the brilliant works on Freelander's site.

I have been attempting to create something with a stiff back and a pliable front/gusset. Basically, a fusion of the sporrans everyone has already seen of mine, and one like the above or like Freelander's sporrans.

Now... the problem I'm having is that I can figure for the life of me how to get the pliable leather to pouch up AND be able to stitch it to the stiff back.

Any helpful tips?

[Caradoc]

Now... the problem I'm having is that I can figure for the life of me how to get the pliable leather to pouch up AND be able to stitch it to the stiff back.

Any helpful tips?

Grab a copy of J. Charles Thompson's "So You're Going to Wear the Kilt" and take a look at the sporran pattern in the back.

It's a good pattern, and shows how the pliable leather should be attached to the stiff leather.

[A Hay]

Big Jim,

Here is one possible solution.


When I attach the gussets, I sew the gusset to the stiff front first then pull it to the back so the seam is hidden. You would not need to do this because your pouch and gusset are essentially one piece.

Then I attach the gusset to the back by matching the inside of the gusset to the inside of the back. This creates two layers of leather. Then, starting at the bottom center of the back, I punch holes through both gusset and back using the smallest hole punch on one of those punches that looks like pliers with a set of spokes on one jaw. You can get them at a hardware store or from Tandy Leather.

I usually only punch 5 to 8 holes ahead of where I'm working.

Then, using leather lacing and a lacing needle (also available from Tandy) I sew the gusset and back together using a double loop stitch. This is visible on the center strip of the sporran in your message. I start from the bottom center and work to the top outside edge as far as I want to go. Then I start again at the bottom and go up the other side, punching and lacing as I go. When starting the second half, I loop the new stitching to the first half. Hard to explain, but it is mostly hidden anyway, if you don't get it right.
You can get instructions on double loop stitching from Tandy as well.

If you already know all about lacing, then this will make some sense to you, If you are not familiar, it's not hard. Practice on a scrap piece of leather first.

This method seems to me to be the simplest if you are doing it by hand. Personally I prefer the look of lacing to sewing. The lacing covers up the edge pieces of the two leathers (the edges of the leather should be dyed so they don't show any light color through the lacing.)

If you need a closer view of the sporrans I included, just let me know.

Hope this helps. Others may have different methods.

Best wishes,

Tom

[BLAZN]

Here is one possible solution.

This is the method I am using for my stiff front sporrans. I sew mine, as I haven't gotten to the point where I am ready to lace. It'll come pretty soon, though.

I think Caradoc's guidance sounds good. I've been wanting that book, but have never followed through and gotten it.