DIY full mask sporran?

[LKM]

If you have ever worked with leather, or almost any hand sewing for that matter, you can easily make a fur sporran. The thing with a full mask is that the head will normally need to be worked on by someone who has done taxidermy. I have worked with several leathers yet I have never done taxidermy work, mostly because I'm not a fan of full mask sporrans or a wall covered in trophy heads.

I have seen two types of full mask sporrans, a cantle with the head hanging on the front and a flap sporran with the head and neck fur on the flap. Of these, the flap style would be the easiest to make. I would recommend making a flap sporran with an inexpensive leather while the head is getting worked on by someone who has done taxidermy. Once you have a flap pattern sporran, then use the same pattern for a sporran where the main pouch has the fur backed with another leather (unbacked fur will often loose some of the the fur with use) and have the head and a portion of the neck fur connected on a backing of leather for the flap. If you go with fur for the sides, you might sometimes need more then one skin if the pelt is small.

I know people that have done taxidermy and have heard that how the animal was skinned can limit how the animal can be posed. If the head is in good condition I would recommend talking to some people in a local hunting organization or club as some hunters take up taxidermy and one of these groups can normally point you to someone who can help.