Not a Thorfinn.. - Advice for DIY Mask Sporran

[bricelythgoe]

The title was meant to pay homage to Thorfinn, who makes the best mask sporrans I have seen. Maybe one day I will have that talent.

Anyways, to the point of my post. I decided over the past couple of weeks that I would make a Mask sporran. I have decided on a skunk mask because the pelt was relatively inexpensive, and if I mess it up (which is a good possibility), I will not be out to much of my money. I have searched all over the internet looking at different pictures. I have also read just about every post on X-Marks that deals with DIY mask sporrans. Many of these contain great advice from Turpin and others (thank you!). However, I find myself with a question. Up until now, all of my sporrans have been 3 pieces - Front, Gussett, and Back. From what I have read, it is recommended you attach the finished head to the flap and sew it to the back piece. Is it not recommended your back piece and flap be one piece? I hope I am making sense. That is the big question I have. If you have to sew the flap on the back piece, any recommendations? I have stuff that I use, but just wondering what some of you do.

Thanks in advance!

Brice

By the way, I have got the forming of the head down. It is pretty straight forward, I am just taking my time.

[turpin]

I have seen it done several ways. For my first mask I sewed the completed face directly to the back panel, having pre-shaped it to it the face. Another option is to sew the face to a separate piece of pre-dyed veg-tan and then sew that to the back panel. I do it by placing the underside of the mask separate piece against the inside of the back piece at its top, and basically sew with a running stitch the area behind the head to the back panel I finish by sewing a leather edge binding over the seam to hie the two raw edges (i.e., the adjoined edges of the mask and rear pieces).

good luck. I hope the eyes of the skunk come out well. Post pix.