Attaching Fur to Sporrans during or after main construction

**benjrush** · 20th April 16, 09:20 AM

Hi, I am new to the forum but have been lurking for a while admiring other people projects. I started off by making a wet formed day sporran and used a mexican round braid to attach the front to the back, It came out pretty well and has spurred me on to make a formal sporran.

I have started by making 2 hinged cantles from brass and have nickel plated one of them (so I can change them to suit the occasion). I know the basic anatomy of a sporran and will be making a front and a back piece that will be laced to the cantles. I will be sewing the front piece to a gusset and then in turn stitching that to the back piece. The bit that I am in need of help with is the fur covering (fluffy rabbit). I have seen many sporrans with what looks like the fur covering the gussets as well but no-one seems to take photos of the side profile so I cant tell whether this is indeed the case or whether it is just the volume of the fur hiding the gusset from the front.

Any tips on how to get the fur attached (during or after the main construction) would be greatly appreciated.

attached is a photo of the brass cantle just before finishing and plating and one of the wet formed sporran.

2015-06-13 16.10.35.jpg 2015-02-26 20.20.21.jpg

Thanks
Ben

**MNlad** · 20th April 16, 09:54 AM

I have had good luck applying contact adhesive to both the front piece of leather and the hide prior to assembly, sewing around the edges after the glue has dried. Be careful of the placement; you only get one shot at this.

The gusset has too much flex to work well with fur attached, so what you usually see is the bulk of the front fur piece hiding this part of the sporran. The rabbit hide is far too delicate to hold up on its own and needs a backing.

**Tarheel** · 20th April 16, 09:57 AM

Well met new member. I hope the following link to an old post by member bluescelt will help with your questions. The link is:
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...sporran-90207/

It can be found in the DIY section of threads. You will find through exploring and reading these old posts, many tips on projects others have done. Welcome and good luck with your own sporran.

**Bluescelt** · 20th April 16, 06:11 PM

Hello Ben,
First off, nice work on your cantles. I have made a few fur and an angora goathair sporran. The fur sporrans I sewed the fur panel to the gusset and that seems to be the best method. I think if you wanted the fur to wrap around you could make the gusset out of fur also and that would give you a fur front and side look. this method would also keep the desired bag shape. I haven't tried a fur gusset but I may. Post photos when you are done!

**benjrush** · 21st April 16, 02:41 AM

Thanks for the advice guys.

would stitching the pelt to the front at the same time as stitching the gusset to it work so the edge of the fur was hidden in this seam? or would too much of the gusset be seen?

I am also wondering whether the back panel is generally made slightly smaller than the front so as to allow the fur to hide it better?
thanks
Ben

**MNlad** · 21st April 16, 05:23 AM

It can be done either way. You may have to play around with it a bit to get the look you want

**Bluescelt** · 21st April 16, 09:18 AM

Originally Posted by benjrush

Thanks for the advice guys.

would stitching the pelt to the front at the same time as stitching the gusset to it work so the edge of the fur was hidden in this seam? or would too much of the gusset be seen?

I am also wondering whether the back panel is generally made slightly smaller than the front so as to allow the fur to hide it better?
thanks
Ben

to get hidden seams on front and back panel Sew them inside facing out so when done the bag will be inside out. Then reach down in the bag and pull it through. the bag will be outside out and your sewing will be on the inside. The only time this may be hard to do would be if the leather was too stiff to bend it that much. Sounds confusing but that's the method I use.
here's a thread I started with a mink front and leather gusset& back. I sewed it inside out and this is how it looked completed.

(DIY brass cantle with mink sporran)

**MNlad** · 21st April 16, 10:26 AM

To get hidden seems on front and back panel Sew them inside facing out so when done the bag will be inside out. Then reach down in the bag and pull it through. the bag will be outside out and your sewing will be on the inside.

If the front and back panels are too stiff for this method, you can sew the gusset to the front panel face-to-face, turn it right-side out, and face stitch or lace the gusset to the back panel. The gusset is usually a lighter piece of leather for flexibility.

**benjrush** · 26th May 16, 07:08 AM

Thanks for all the help so far. I am progressing well and have sewed the front to the gusset and the belt loop to the back. The fur is cut out but not attached yet.

I have sewed the gusset to the front (front to front) and have turned it inside out so it rolls round the edge of the front panel. do I need to wet shape the gusset now (put an inwards fold in it) in order to stop it from sagging below the front panel? I intend to sew it to the back panel, rough side of gusset to rough side of the back panel. (the back panel is smooth side out i.e. nearest to kilt)
(I can add a pic if my explaination isnt clear.)

Thanks
Ben