My first DIY sporran

[Nighthawk]

Thanks for the heads up regarding thread - I'm not too worried for my first few sporrans while I figure out exactly how they go together, but once I'm comfy with my patterns and working with the leather instead of woven fabric, I'll definitely switch to the waxed nylon.

There are a few things I know I want to adjust on my next Rob Roy - bigger, more rounded front reinforcing panel, and thicker leather for that and the belt loop/flap piece. Some decorative edgework on the top flap. Maybe eyelets, maybe not.

One thing that I do when I make a Rob Roy style is to put vegetable tanned leather on the inside as a reinforcer where the pull chord goes. I know I'm not explaining that very well, so I'll take some pictures and show you what I mean. Also, the sporrans from the period weren't typically gusseted- they were essentially 18 inch circles with holes punched around the edge! I recently made one like that for myself, and while it took up a lot of hide, it was much easier to make. Maybe you could think about trying that style next! I mention it only because I personally am always experimenting with new and different ways (for me!!) to do things.

[NeightRG]

I wanted to use heavier leather like veg tanned for the reinforcement, but I was just going with what I had on hand. I glued and sewed two thicknesses of the lightweight jacket leather together for the reinforcement and the back piece, but it's still not nearly as rigid as it seems it should be.

The 18 inch circle idea is interesting. Would you add a flap to it?
I don't have a big enough piece of leather to try that right now, but it could look really good with a great kilt. Must be really roomy, too.

[English Bloke]

That looks OK. I thought of having a bash with an old jacket but didn't due to the thickness issue. After seeing your go, I might give it another bash if I can locate a suitable jacket for chopping up. Also since I mentioned it in passing to her, my wife looks at me suspiciously everytime I go near anything made of leather. She's not keen... She's worried I'll wreck the dining table or worse, her sewing machine.

[NeightRG]

She's worried I'll wreck the dining table or worse, her sewing machine.

That's one thing I did appreciate about the thin garment leather - didn't even put a new needle in the machine and had no trouble getting through the leather. The tricky part was getting the feed dogs to grip it well. It was fine wherever I was sewing suede side out, but the the few places I had to sew right side out were tricky.

[Nighthawk]

I wanted to use heavier leather like veg tanned for the reinforcement, but I was just going with what I had on hand. I glued and sewed two thicknesses of the lightweight jacket leather together for the reinforcement and the back piece, but it's still not nearly as rigid as it seems it should be.

The 18 inch circle idea is interesting. Would you add a flap to it?
I don't have a big enough piece of leather to try that right now, but it could look really good with a great kilt. Must be really roomy, too.

Yes, deffinately put a flap on the bag! Again, I use veg tanned to stiffen the flap- or just use veg tanned...