Pipers sporran some questions

[Emmet]

I've gotten the sporran making bug lately and want to have a go at making a pipers/ big hairy sporran. Has anyone attempted such a project?

From what I gather I just arrange the hair in layers and sew over it? add some glue to the tops?

Is human hair suitable?

How does one make the bells? Is it just knot the hair and attach it to the braid then cover in leather?

thanks in advance

[artificer]

There are a number of ways to attach the hair on a sporran-

The most "modern" would be to simply stitch in place and glue over the stitching.

Older techniques involve either

a) sewing the hair between two thin but stiff tempered strips, which are then sewn to the sporran at their top edge

b) sewing the hair in place using 'laps' of leather. The hair is sandwiched in place and stitched multiple times, which makes for a VERY durable join.



Either of the two older styles of construction are strong enough that the hair can be attached to a light, flexible body, rather than a solid slab of leather like on a modern piper's sporran.



My big problem with relying primarily on glue to form the permanent attachment is that, over time, many glues dry out, get brittle and crack, or get gummy (depending on what type of glue it is). Once your anchor is compromised, you're going to lose a LOT of hair in a hurry.


Would human hair be suitable, probably, but unless you're a barber who has a client willing to lose two feet of bound pony-tail that you'll get human hair at a cost less than horse hair.

Also be aware that human hair is much finer than horse hair, so your attachments will have to be all the better, or it will slip out that much easier.

I've seen two old styles of tassel hair attachment (I'm sure there are more).

On one the hair is indeed folded double to form a loop, then bound with string to keep it in place - the bell goes over the top.

The other style (and the one I use) the hair is rolled around the braid and stitched in place THROUGH the braid multiple times. The bell again drops down over the top.

Good luck, and remember "Pix or it didn't happen"

ith:

[OC Richard]

A little background... these long hair sporrans evolved by the 1840s and for the rest of the 19th century were the standard sporrans for civilian day dress, civilian evening dress, and military dress. They were by no means ever confined to pipers, or the army.

Some Sergeants of the 42nd Foot in 1865



and some civilians in the 19th century, pipers



and non-pipers





We think of them as being of horsehair, such as this example made in 1938



but the early ones were goathair



The horsehair sporrans, indeed, were actually horsehair added to a goathair body, as can be plainly seen here

[Emmet]

Thanks for the construction pics they've cleared up a lot for me.

I'm not sure on the cost of horse hair but I live in tottenham, London which has a huge african/jamacian population and as such lots of african hair shops where you can get basically a pony tail of human hair for a pound.

Also any advice for handling the objections from the girlfriend?

[artificer]

Thanks for the construction pics they've cleared up a lot for me.

I'm not sure on the cost of horse hair but I live in tottenham, London which has a huge african/jamacian population and as such lots of african hair shops where you can get basically a pony tail of human hair for a pound.

Also any advice for handling the objections from the girlfriend?

Yup-

"It's easier to ask for forgiveness than it is to get permission" - Grace Hopper

Make it first, then it will be twice as hard for her to say no.

ith:

[artificer]

A little background... these long hair sporrans evolved by the 1840s and for the rest of the 19th century were the standard sporrans for civilian day dress, civilian evening dress, and military dress. They were by no means ever confined to pipers, or the army.
...

The horsehair sporrans, indeed, were actually horsehair added to a goathair body, as can be plainly seen here

Thank you, Richard. I left that particular variation out intentionally.
Would you consider it a transitional phase between the older goat and the modern horse hair, or a sporran style in it's own right?

I'm inclined to consider it the former.

ith: