Making my own sporran

[Moosehead]

A cellist in a kilt is a cellist and a half.

Or, a cellist who just cut off half!

Geez, did I just say that? Bad Mr. Teacher.

[JayFilomena]

Good on ya for taking up the project. No matter how it turns out, I am pretty sure it will be your favorite sporran. How long will the process take? when can we expect photos?

Jaybird

[ozmeath]

Awesome david and most inspiring. I've only decided to do same but I'll take the short cut and buy the leather. Bloody great to see you doing the hard yards. Keep us up to date on the process.

Erin.

[David in Maryland]

How long will the process take? when can we expect photos?

Jaybird

As for how long, if I did not have a job during the weekdays, I would probably be cutting the leather this upcoming weekend. In order to remove the hair and grain easily, you soak the hide in an akaline solution, typically wood ash, lime, or lye, mixed with water. This causes the hide and grain to swell. I have finished removing the grain and hair, and am now soaking the hide in water to rinse out the akaline, to make the hide soft again. This only takes a couple of days. Once rinsed, I have to scrape the flesh side of the hide again to remove the membrane, about 10 minutes. If you ever had suede that was real nappy, it is because all the membrane was not removed. Than I can soak it over night in an emulsified fat, which softens the hide, wring out, and soak again. Then you procede to stretching the hide out to dry it, this takes a few hours. Once the hide is dry, it is preserved and will last. Then you smoke it to color it and to add a final layer of preservation. Without smoking the hide is white in color, but the only thing you have to worry about destroying the hide would be bugs. Smoke it, and the bugs leave it alone. This process is called braintanning, because typically you use the animal's brain mixed with water to soak the hide. You can also use eggs or Dove soap mixed with neatsfoot oil as an emulsified fat. I will post a photo of each step of me making my sporran, or I should say making the leather to make my sporran.