Review: New day wear sporran

**2a5t2f7** · 16th September 10, 01:34 PM

I recently received a custom made sporran from member A_Hay! (Tom Hays). Tom did a beautiful job and it exceeded my expectations. I espcially appreciate that he made it large enough to be fully functional to carry all the "stuff" we now think we can't live without.

It is about 7" wide, 7 1/2" tall, and a full 3" deep. The opening is about 6" wide and combined with a magnetic snap, is extremely easy to access.

All in all, I am extremely pleased and appreciative that Tom shared his talent. In keeping with the "it didn't happen if......", I am attaching a couple of pics taken with my cell phone when I took it for the first test drive.

Slainte,
Doug

**Dale Seago** · 16th September 10, 02:47 PM

Not only is it practical, it looks great too!

**Chas** · 17th September 10, 05:21 AM

Beautiful peice of work. He's got a talent and you have a great sporran.

Regards

Chas

**longhuntr74** · 18th September 10, 06:29 AM

He's truly a craftsman...only thing I'd change is the chain for a leather strap...not a fan of chain belts except for dress occassions.

**2a5t2f7** · 18th September 10, 12:10 PM

Amen on the strap. I've already got one inbound.......

**A Hay** · 19th September 10, 09:36 AM

Thanks for posting the Picture of your new sporran, Doug.
I'm glad you like it.

Doug had asked for a design similar to another I had made for someone here before. I changed the design slightly so the previous one and this one are unique.

TECH NOTES: Also on this one, I tried a different lacing technique. It is called Mexican Basket Weave or Round braiding. It comes from a book called Lacing & Stitching for Leathercraft from Tandy Leather (Page 16). It does a great job of covering the edge where the gussett and the back panel comes together, and I carried it all the way around the front panel. It takes a lot of lace, 9 or 10 times the distance you have to cover around the edge. And it takes a long time, but I like the look. Another step in my evolution as a leather worker I guess.

COMING NEXT: I created a new pattern for another customer. He has large hands and carries lots of stuff. The new pattern is about 1 inch wider at the top of the opening, about 8 inches, and about 7 to 7 1/2 inches deep. Front to back is going to be deeper too. He is somewhat short and wide so I think the proportions will be about right for him. Hope to finish it in the next two weeks.

Regards,

Tom

**artificer** · 19th September 10, 10:20 AM

Originally Posted by A_Hay!

TECH NOTES: Also on this one, I tried a different lacing technique. It is called Mexican Basket Weave or Round braiding.

Great work!
I've always loved the look of the Mexican Basket weave. It's amazing just HOW much lace some of the braids eat up, especially when covering a multi-ply edge.

**piperdbh** · 19th September 10, 04:36 PM

Originally Posted by A_Hay!

Doug had asked for a design similar to another I had made for someone here before. I changed the design slightly so the previous one and this one are unique.

Here's the one Tom's talking about, which he made for me some time back:

As usual, Tom's work is beautiful, and I'm sure Doug is as pleased with his sporran as I am with mine.