First sporran build:::Interesting fur used

[brewerpaul]

Greetings all,

Kilt wearing has been a very positive aspect in my life in many ways though at times it tends to empty my pocketbook. One of the more positive effects it has had on me, and also on Jennifer (my girlfriend), is creativity that has been stagnant for some years. As most of you will attest to, buying kilts and kit can be very expensive. Being a kit junkie like most of us I figured I had about three choices:
1: Go without---and who among us would do that
2: Save up the money, which is worse than the jonesing
3: Make it myself

For myself the third option became the correct way to do things. This meant re-exploring the creativity Ive stored away for years. This has become infectious for myself and Jennifer. From sewing machines, to wood working, weaving and more we have allowed ourselves the fun and satisfaction of creativity. We also look at it as sustainable ways of living.

Ive seen many fine sporrans cross the pages of XMarks and looked at the fine work of Artificer and others. More and more I wanted something besides the stock sporrans seen around the web stores yet I dont have the money to commission someone to make one. Well I said to myself "Self let's just make one, you can find the materials, how hard can it be." Finding the materials is not a huge problem, finding the time can be, and yes there is a level of difficulty. My last leather project was a Tandy wallet I stamped out and laced up for my grandfather in the late 60's, I still have that wallet. So my project begin with wanting a fur sporran san the head, didnt think Jennifer would care for my sporran starring at her. The project started out with 2.5 oz brown soft cow hide and a rabbit pelt. I had plans for a Rabbit Rob Roy, or as Elmer Fudd would say "A wabbit Wob Woy". I learned as I went and the project evolved to a half sewn pouch sitting waiting for my next inspiration. What happened is I found the rabbit pelt a bit too fragile to sew so it tore and though pliable and soft the cow hide too thick to draw together after I rolled the top over to give it a nice round edge. Well this week I finally put that stagnant project back into the fire and with the acquisition of a nutria pelt from Promise Land Ranch Tannery I created what I think is an acceptable fur, sans the head, sporran. There is alot of hand work in this project and some machine sewing where I could. Below are photos for your critique. If you are not from the south and wonder what a nutria is, it is the four legged animal version of Kudzu. It grows and breeds everywhere in the south and you cant get rid of it. It is part muskrat, beaver, marmot and what ever other rodent you can toss in. What it does have is a rather nice fur, soft under fur with long brown and black straight hair.

The back of the sporran was the original pouch I was going to use for the Rabbit Rob Roy. I cut another piece for the front for stability and affixed the fur. This is a photo of the back with the cutout for the sporran chain. I used a stiff piece of leather inside the pouch for strength.



Photo 2 shows the flap. I used the 2.5 oz cow hide and reinforced the round portion of the flap with some heavier leather sandwiched in between. With many holes punched I glued then sewed the fur to the flap. The flap is very flexible over the sporran opening and the round portion is good and stiff.



Photo 3 is the interior. I did not line it, maybe the next one. I did put a piece of leather over the slots for the sporran chain and sewed that all together. This keeps the chain from being inside the sporran and catching on anything.



This sporran is a little wider than your stock sporran and has plenty of room. I do like the colors of the fur and the fur characteristics. The hair lays pretty well in the visible areas. Where the fur is rolled into the sporran it sticks up a bit but that doesnt show and will in time lay flat. Im looking forward to wearing it to the St Louis Highland Games this coming weekend.



One last photo and maybe a question for those who would wish to contribute. I personally like the clean look of no closure devices on the outside. My intent for the Rob Roy was gnarly staghorn buttons with heavy leather lace as a drawstring from one button over the other. My MOJO Rob Roy has that sort of closure. Ive included a photo of those buttons and lace but my feeling is keep it clean and it could be worn as an evening sporran. With this in mind I need to find a way to keep it closed. Im considering tearing apart some old hard drives for the rare earth magnets but Ive read where these can blank your credit cards. Any other thoughts on invisible closure?



Any and all critique, help and hints will be appreciated. This is and was a fun first project and I learned quite a bit. The fun part of a project is how it can evolve, and this one did. Next up is a Rob Roy from a raccoon pelt I got from shopgoodwill and some antique weathered goat skin. With that I will use the gnarly buttons for closure.


One last statement about this sporran, Jennifer liked it and says she will pet my sporran....... How good can that be.....

[Chas]

Good work, Paul! I like the 'no closure look'. Could be used for formal as well.

Regards

Chas

[brewerpaul]

Good work, Paul! I like the 'no closure look'. Could be used for formal as well.

Regards

Chas

Thanks Chas, and yes Im much more for the no closure look than having any snaps, clasps or antler buttons on it. In time the hair at the top will calm down and lay flat, that is just where I rolled the pelt over the body edge and attached it. I like that the flap fur blends well with the body of the sporran so it looks quite uniform.

Id like to hear from others, "The Good, The Bad, The Ugly". Give me some feedback, opinions, advice or tell me to shove it. Id like to know what everyone thinks.

[knotty]

Very nice work.