Hand made sporrans?

[Fearnest]

And just to be different (go figure) I'll put a vote in for heavy waxed thread... at least, as long as your project is going to be for casual/daily use.

[Mountainman]

This was my original train of thought, cut out the pattern, measure off a seam, mark with pen where holes should be(a ponce wheel is a good idea for this), punch holes ie awl, small drill, something like that, sew, adorn with any decorations i can come up with, take pics, post on x marks, enjoy sporran.

maybe now with a little advice from those more experienced i can modify and make things easier on myself!!

[PiobBear]

Oh yeah, another thing; make it out of cardboard and felt first. After you've got the design the way you want it, make a pattern from the mock-up, then take knife to leather.

[Mountainman]

Oh yeah, another thing; make it out of cardboard and felt first. After you've got the design the way you want it, make a pattern from the mock-up, then take knife to leather.

OOPS!

[Peter C.]

There are a few tools that you'll want to get to do a neat job.
Using a groover, you emboss a groove 1/4" in from the edge, then you run a
ponce wheel along the groove, marking where the stitches will go. Using a block of end-grain softwood (like a cut-off from a 4X4), you punch holes where the wheel marked them with an awl, taking care to get them vertical; not at an angle.
Finally, using a needle and sailmaker's palm, start a few holes down from the end of a seam, stitch up, then backstitch back down and continue along the seam. Some people saddle-stitch with two needles (on each end of the thread), crossing each other at every hole; I just use one, and when I get to the end of a seam I back-stitch back to the beginning. Try to keep the tension on the stitches as uniform as humanly possible.

PiobBear, I am about to make my first sporran, and like the way you suggest it should be done. I have seen a Tandy starter kit recommended which has everything that you suggest except that it has an overstitch wheel instead of a ponce wheel. Do you know if they are the same thing?
Am I right to assume that a sailmaker`s palm is something to push the needle through with?

Peter

[AL-58]

Am I right to assume that a sailmaker`s palm is something to push the needle through with?

Peter

That's exactly what it is. Saves your hands from a lot of discomfort when hand sewing heavy materials. I used to use one 8 hours a day for a week or two straight many years ago, reinforcing Land Rover canvas roofs for the Australian Army, I went home green from head to toe every day from the crap that came off the canvas.

Al

[PiobBear]

an overstitch wheel instead of a ponce wheel. Do you know if they are the same thing?

Just checked their catalog; yes; same tool.

Am I right to assume that a sailmaker`s palm is something to push the needle through with?

Yes; it has a dimpled iron cup-type thing in the palm, set in a ring of rawhide. In use, your hand forms a fist with the needle protruding between the fingers. Even with pre-punched holes (necessary for all but garment leather), the extra force really helps (even then, sometimes you need pliers to pull the needle out the other side). I prefer to use sailmaker's needles, too (little ones are called "glover's needles").

[Peter C.]

Thanks Al-58, I shall have to get myself a sailmakers palm.

Peter

[Peter C.]

Thanks PiobBear for the great advice.

I will be following all of it even down to the glover's needles.

Peter

[turpin]

You can save yourself a lot of elbow grease by using a 4-prong, diamond point punch to make the holes and a stitching needle to pull the thread through. I use both artificial sinew and waxed embroidery thread on my sporrans, and am testing hemp thread as well.



Needle


Just some other options. you didn't say whether you were making a soft or a stiff bag.