Thinking about making a dress sporran

[raibeart_dubh]

I would like to try my hand at making a dress sporran with fur and a cantle. Does anyone hear have some instructions on doing so or some photos of one being made?

[Kiltman]

I don't have any photos of one being made. However, the best thing is to borrow a sporran of the type you want to make and then study it. The most difficult part is determining what order to do things in.

[Piper]

These are some of the sporrans I've made. The cantles are from Stillwater. The fur sporran is kangaroo.

A friend gave us some reenacting gear because they were getting out of the hobby. Included was a hair-on kangaroo skin (no idea where or why they got it). I figured, what more natural thilng to make a pouch (sporran) out of, than kangaroo? When I cut the fur pieces out, I made sure that the lay of the fur ran vertically, top to bottom. I also used fur for the gusset, two pieces so that the lay of the fur ran down both sides toward the center. Other than being careful about the lay of the fur, I treated those pieces like any other leather.

[attworth]

If you can, borrow one of similar style that you'd like to make. Trace it onto some paper for a template. Add a little extra for sewing, and be sure to accommodate where the cantle will mount. The front and back should be basically the same. If you plan to use a gusset, that should be easy enough to figure out.

I've heard that it's easier to sew the sporran tab on the back and whatever closure method you use prior to sewing the sporran pieces together.

Correct me if I'm wrong folks, but I believe common practice is to make the body out of leather first, then attach the fur, prior to sewing the pieces together.

[turpin]

The most difficult part is determining what order to do things in.

Too right! If at first you think you'd do it one way, it's usually 180 degrees the opposite, especially when it gets to the details. For example, anything that will end up on the insidee should be done before sewing the bag together. Think it through before you do. might even write down the steps.

[Joe Gondek]

One way to get a pattern is to find a picture on any site that gives how tall and wide, print off the picture,use a photocopier to blow it up to full size.
go to your local scottish shop and look at construction methods
be sure to increase the size of the gusset to about 3.5 inches or wider

then put it together in your head several times before you cut it out or start sewing

heres one I made using that method



this how-to might also help
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/o...x.html?t=18903

[bricelythgoe]

I found some really cheap ones on ebay. http://cgi.ebay.com/Real-Cow-Skin-Bl...3A1%7C294%3A50

They usually end up going for about 25-35 dollars including shipping. You can use that to do a little research. That is what I did. Just bought a cheap one, tore it apart, and figured out how they did. then you can build one with better materials, if you want.

Brice

[raibeart_dubh]

Thanks for all of the replies! I think I at least know how to start now. I probably will pick up a cheap one and take it apart as suggested.