A new attempt at a Victorian style semi dress sporran

[Shinenotburn]

Most all the leather for this sporran came from a recycled brief case. I'm hoping to finish the cantle off with a nice plain silver bar across the top.
It's very roomy inside and is lined with pigskin. Should look nice with a Montrose jacket and jabot. I think t is a better picture than the one I previously postedScreenshot copy.jpg

[Tim Little]

Wow; impressive!

[Shinenotburn]

Glad you like it Tim.

[Mike S]

Beautiful. I love this one!

Wasn't there another thread going where you posted this? I believe that you said that you were going to put a metal cantle on it. I would leave off if it were me, it doesn't need it.

[Shinenotburn]

I was not sure where this was being posted the first time, but this is a different photo. It is a little clearer than the rest I think. How do you like the two tone effects here Mike. I was a little unsure as the oxblood seems a little garish to me. I even considered dying the whole deal black before I sewed in the lining.

[Mike S]

No, don't dye the whole thing black!!! I love the two tone scheme, it "makes" the sporran for me.

[Dughlas mor]

I`m with Mike! To dye the whole thing black would defeat the considerable amount of work you have done to create the contrasting elements in the design. SNB, you have a truly unique style to your designs, traditional, but with your own distinct flare. I like it a lot.

[Shinenotburn]

Thanks for the comments, I very much appreciate your ideas and feed back. Contrast is always interesting to me. Question guys; When you sew your big pieces together by hand, do you sew in both directions (back to front and front to back) with two needles on the same piece. If so what kind of vice or clamp do you use?

[Mike S]

I use contact cement to bond the edges of the pieces when ever possible to hold them in place. You can then emboss or scribe a stitch line with an awl, or stitching groover when you want the stitches recessed. I either use an overstitch wheel to mark the stitching holes and punch them out with an awl, or use a diamond chisel to cut them.

It is better to use the saddle stitch and go at it back and forth with two needles than to do a running stitch one way, then double back the other. The stitching works out more evenly, and with the proper tension.

I don't have a stitching tree clamp, but should probably get or make one.

[Shinenotburn]

Thanks, Mike. I have been using gorilla glue. The kind thats water activated. Pretty good stuff so far but hard to clean up. I like your system and do something similar myself, but that saddle stitch does sound like a better way to handle this type of work.

I'm working on a new fur sporran now. Using fur from a recycled Tanuki coat. Very beautiful fur. We will see how this goes.