Sporran making...

**BLAZN** · 29th October 06, 08:40 AM

Originally Posted by Freelander Sporrano

I Was just thinking about the general thickness I'm never to sure about weights. We buy in sq feet and look at the thickness.The thinner it is the easier it is to work with of course . I was glad to see you have worked out your sporran in cardboard first. Many will remember this

It's the best way to work things out

Lovely mock up.

I'm going for a stiffer sporran than what you produce. I just measured out the leather I use... it's 8mm thick. The leather I use for my gussets, which I feel is not stiff enough for what I want to produce, is 4mm thick. Suppose I could get away with a 5 or 6mm thick leather, and still have the stiff look I'm after?

**A Hay** · 29th October 06, 12:01 PM

Having just completed my third sporran, I can appreciate the problems you are dealing with. I'm by no means an expert, but please accept these comments in the sense of a fellow leatherworker's thoughts.

One of the common complaints you hear is that "I can't get my hand inside the sporran" How does yours feel? It looks a bit narrow at the top to me. On mine I made the gusset a little wider so that it opens nearly two inches at the top. The gusset strip I used was about 2 1/2 inches wide at the bottom and tapered to about 2 3/4 inches at the top.

Have you considered the edge finish on the back of the sporran? Right now it shows up too raw and bright. Perhaps dyed black to match the suede? Or wrap the suede around the back edge?

It was also mentioned by others that the top flap perhaps should come down further. I would second that. If you dampen the leather, then fold it and let it dry folded, it will make a nice curve over the front.

There are many options for finishing and decorating. If you are trying for a Renn Faire look, you can check out paintings from the middle ages for the purses men wore on their belts for examples. You can find most anything on the web.

Good luck on your next projects. Be sure to keep us posted.

Tom