New sporran and a thought

**Panache** · 31st March 12, 01:56 PM

DIY Sporran and Though

Some time ago I went looking for a replacement cantle from Jerry over at Stillwater Kilts so I could replace a rather cheap cantle that made my very first sporran not pleasing to my more experienced eye. I wound up with a few seconds that Jerry had and one of them had an unsightly "tarnished" finish. In the process of removing it I accidently went down through the chrome to the layer of brass. Intrigued, I stripped the whole cantle down to the brass and replaced the top knob with a brass one. I added a coat of oiled bronze paint to highlight the detail of the knotwork and bought myself some leather to make a sporran. Then I promptly stuck all those materials in a drawer in my workshop because leatherwork isn't my strong suit and I didn't want to waste my time for a poor result.

That was about a year ago.

The other day my daughter was home sick from school and I happened on the cantle. It was a rainy day and I had little better to do so I pulled out the materials amd decided to give it a go.

Here is the result

And here is me wearing it at my daughter's school where I volunteer in the Library

Now I'm reasonably pleased with how this came out. It isn't great by any stretch of the imagination, but is acceptable enough to wear. (Also to my credit... I didn't stab myself while stitching it together! )

When I completed it I thought about piperdbh's excellent thread "Why do we make stuff"
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...e-stuff-72248/ I had posted to it, but another thought struck me in light of the completed sporran.

I have so much more appreciation for the sporrans my talented fellow X Markers like Artificer, Robert Pel of R Kilts, David of Freelander Sporrans, Joe Gondek, Harold Cannon, turpin, Donnie of Wyvern Leather Works, and all the other talented sporran makers here on our forum make. It is not easy, it takes patience, it takes creativity, and it takes serious skill to make these things!

Expanding this thought, I realize that it is only after we try our hand at making something ourselves can we fully understand and appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into a well made item.

I doff my plumed hat to you guys...the real sporran makers here on XMTS. You are a talented bunch!

ith:

Cheers

Jamie

**California Highlander** · 31st March 12, 02:12 PM

That's a pretty sharp sporran for a single rainy afternoon. Nice job! Making things is fun. I'm going to try my hand at a sgian bru shortly....

**Panache** · 31st March 12, 02:25 PM

Originally Posted by California Highlander

That's a pretty sharp sporran for a single rainy afternoon. Nice job! Making things is fun. I'm going to try my hand at a sgian bru shortly....

Those are a fun little project. I made a bunch of them when I first joined XMTS (they helped pay for my first real handsewn tartan kilt).

I still have and use this one when kilted and tasty beverages are likely

While looking for my "Sgian Don't" photos I found this really old one of the first sporran I made my young son years ago from the leather from a pair of old boots. It is too small for him now.

So at least there has been some improvement over the years!

Cheers

Jamie

**Piipriker** · 31st March 12, 02:35 PM

very nice indeed, I especially like how the cantle came out.

You are right, you appreciate the work more if you put your hand to something yourself. i know many european pipe makers personally, have seen them working at a show or in their workshop. I made some pipes myself (from pre drilled briar) and know what labour it is to make a decent pipe in contrary to the mediocre ones I made.

**turpin** · 1st April 12, 05:26 PM

That cantle looks outstanding, Jamie. I'd love to find a source for something like that commercially.

**tulloch** · 2nd April 12, 06:57 AM

Bravo! Looks like time well spent.

**OC Richard** · 3rd April 12, 05:23 AM

I really like what you've done to that sporran, except that single tassel. (Sorry for being nitpicky.) For whatever reason I've always preferred leather sporrans to have no tassels, or three.