Tandy Leather sporran kit and video offering

[brewerpaul]

I know there are some very talented leather workers on Xmarks but for those who might want to break into leather work and make a sporran here is an offering from Tandy Leather.

https://www.leathercraftlibrary.com/...al-videos.aspx

Video access is on a subscription base so if you aren't interested in the video you can just download the patter for a couple bucks.

https://www.leathercraftlibrary.com/...n-pattern.aspx

I get the newsletter and sales from Tandy and saw this today so I thought I would pass it on to anyone interested. Enjoy

[Wareyin]

I just read that newsletter myself, and am interested. I'm debating making the attempt, but I haven't looked at the materials list. Sadly, I can usually buy a premade sporran for less than what Tandy is asking for for one quality sheet of leather.

eta: I looked at their materials list and for the fur and leather alone they are asking $429.99, plus several tools and supplies that I don't have. And the finished product does not look worth $400-$500 dollars.

[tripleblessed]

They often have scraps, and they have other suitable leathers that are cheaper. Relevant tools are helpful, but folk were
doing leather work long before those tools were available. A good yardstick or steel rule and Xacto knife will get you
through a simple sporran (he says knowingly, looking at the three he's started and not completed). You'll wind up spending
as much or more than what a cheap one will cost, but you made it, and your next will be better. A pattern can be made
by drawing one based on looking at various sporrans and seeing their construction. If you have fun and want to do more,
then you can invest in the tools.

I met up with Lamar Britt at the Stone Mountain Powwow and we found a leather booth that had great prices. We bought.
I will get it done. Also, I was given a skunk pelt by one of the merchants. I was in a kilt, which started a conversation as I
was buying. Still deciding on design.

Have fun.

[Dughlas mor]

I just read that newsletter myself, and am interested. I'm debating making the attempt, but I haven't looked at the materials list. Sadly, I can usually buy a premade sporran for less than what Tandy is asking for for one quality sheet of leather.

eta: I looked at their materials list and for the fur and leather alone they are asking $429.99, plus several tools and supplies that I don't have. And the finished product does not look worth $400-$500 dollars.

The amount of leather suggested in the materials list would be enough to make several sporrans, the hair on cowhides average about 35 sq. feet. I never seem to see any scraps at Tandy big enough to make much out of, but you can buy a single shoulder of 4-5 oz veg tan for about $50.00. That would be enough for two sporrans, easily. You don`t need to use the hair on stuff. You might want to use something more pliable for the gusset of the sporran, assuming their pattern has a gusset. For tools, an x-acto knife, something to mark and punch holes (a divider and an awl), and appropriate needles and thread will get the job done. Take your time and put some thought into it, and you will come up with a nice sporran, if not on the first attempt, surely on the second.

[Todd Bradshaw]

I think they look quite good, and most Tandy patterns are not bad at all. FYI you can buy sporran-sized hunks of many leathers individually off of eBay at decent (usually better than Tandy) prices, as well as just about any individual tool or hardware bit you will ever need. Making a nice sporran will most likely cost you a bit more than a Pakistani one, but it won't look stamped out by the thousands and won't cost anything remotely close to hundreds of dollars.

I use a combination of machine and hand sewing (because I already own the machines) but these could just as easily be all hand sewn with no more equipment than a simple punch and a couple of needles. I doubt I have more than maybe $25 in materials and hardware invested in any one of them.