Child's Sporran Upgrade

**Panache** · 5th February 09, 07:18 PM

Sometime back I bought my son an inexpensive black sporran with two tassles. I'm sure most of the kilted parents on XMTS have seen them. They are not of the best quality but they certainly work fine for a boy's first sporran.

Now young Sinbad has mentioned to me on several occasions that he really likes my fur sporrans. This rainy afternoon I decided that using a method I suggested on the forum a while back and a couple of thrift store purchases I would try to make this sporran a little nicer.

(1) I took out the rivets holding the tassels in place and removed the tassels

(2) I made a pattern of the front of the sporran and cut it out of a thrift store find- a 25 cent rabbit fur mitten (from a box of single mittens)

(3) I trimmed the fur to fir the sporran front

(4) I glued it to the front with super glue

(5) I using a rotary leather punch and an x-acto knife I made two small slits and two holes in the fur front for the tassels and the new rivets that would hold them in place. I also took a minute to fix the tassels and shine them up a bit with mink oil before riveting them back into place.

(6) For a semi-dress sporran I thought a bit of metal decoration was needed for the front flap. It happened a few months back at the same thrift store I came across a lion head pin/pendant for a whopping 3 dollars. I picked it up knowing that a project would come up that could use it.

I made two more small holes with the leather punch and fixed the pin to the sporran. It was a tight fit and I had to bend the pin into place (which means it is pretty secure)

(7) Completed Sporran

My handsome boy sporting his new semi-dress sporran.

In conclusion I'm sure I could have done better with trimming and fitting the fur. This was the first time I had worked with fur (and boy is it messy!) but whatever imperfections may be in the end result were unimportant to my son. He gave me a huge hug and told me how much he liked it.

If it is good enough for Sinbad it is good enough for me!

It took about an hour of effort, a few tools, a little superglue, and a $3.25 in materials to make his sporran a little more appropriate for the scion of one of XMTS' tartan peacocks!

Cheers

Jamie

**McMurdo** · 5th February 09, 08:19 PM

Wonderful job, I'm sure Sinbad will get lots of use from it.

**Weasel Mender** · 5th February 09, 08:26 PM

Quite nicely done Sir your son looks quite proud of it!

No apologies needed for craftsmanship needed.

It could have come out looking like the dog's breakfast but because Dad made it it is the finest sporran in the world,

if you don't believe that ask Sinbad if he would swap it for a new one.

Weasel

**pipesndrumsnun** · 5th February 09, 08:27 PM

GREAT job, Jamie! And Sinbad is certainly a cute little kiltie!

**Sheep In Wolf's Clothing** · 6th February 09, 07:35 AM

The sporran looks great! (I really like the Aslan looking pin!) Sinbad is looking very sharp..but usually apples don't fall far from the tree.
Wear in good health Sinbad!
Sara

**Arlen** · 6th February 09, 09:36 AM

That's fantastic. Sinbad looks absolutely wonderful!

Cutting the fur gets easier with practice and a sharp knife. Cut it from the back side through the leather with a knife and it's A LOT less messy.

**george7** · 6th February 09, 09:40 AM

That looks great! Now he's ready for almost any occasion.

**JSFMACLJR** · 6th February 09, 09:43 AM

Good job, Jamie. He looks very proud of the results.

Cheers,
Sandford

**Freelander Sporrano** · 6th February 09, 09:58 AM

OMG !!!! them have shrunk Jamie.....

Seriously great Job . You look great Sinbad

PS. When your Dads not looking use his Sporran that Sten Rune and I made .. We won't tell on you

**Panache** · 6th February 09, 10:10 AM

Originally Posted by Weasel Mender

... No apologies needed for craftsmanship needed.

It could have come out looking like the dog's breakfast but because Dad made it it is the finest sporran in the world,

if you don't believe that ask Sinbad if he would swap it for a new one.

Originally Posted by Freelander Sporrano

...PS. When your Dads not looking use his Sporran that Sten Rune and I made .. We won't tell on you

I am very touched to say that my son still loves the first sporran I made for him.

It was my attempt to make a sporran in the style of one of David and Sten's marvelous Freelander sporrans out of the leather from an old boot.

A far cry from a real Freelander Sporran but a couple years down the road he still wears it with pride (though it has a better Celtic button and sporran hangers now).

He seems to like the sporrans made by Robert Pell at R Kilts (sorry David!

) so I think that is going to be his birthday present

Cheers

Jamie