WIP Sporran #5 (hunting)- from the very start

[artificer]

Well, my work yesterday was slowed down by having to tend to the grill more than I planned (storm front changed all the weather, rain on grill cooled my perfect 225*f to 195* - had to rebuild heat) Ended up wet, muddy, covered in coal dust and ash. However, at 2059hrs, just 17hrs after my start time, I finally got everything off the coals and pulled the pork!

Luckily, I still had time to get test pieces for the major parts of the front cut. These are still cut from scrap leather and will need a bit of tweaking. Ignore the size difference between the top and bottom of the bag, the top pieces were cut to represent the edge of the stitching and fold over for the 'purse lip' and aren't quite the full size. I'm trying to focus on the proportions on the front panel here.

I don't have the full hole pattern for the top 'collar' above the targe finished to my liking, so only the bottom row is punched.

Also, the stitched detail that joins each section together is obviously absent here.

The lower section of the bag shown here is basically the one from yesterday, the new one is still being adjusted/skived.

Luckily, my pinker (sawtooth edge cutter) seems to be just the perfect size for this application. On the inner targe the circumference is such that I don't have to cheat any of the peaks

Without further ado - test fit 1


I may make a change and remove the inner part of the central targe, and have the edge that is now pinked be a simple saddle stitch. I don't know if I'm that thrilled with the additional layer here. I added it in after making the original design, and I think it might be too busy. Below is an altered image to show (with the colour change) where the stitch would lie, but I've removed the pinked edge in Photoshop.



This one feels more balanced to me.

Any thoughts?

EDIT: After staring at the images, I realized I really needed to actually physically model the more simple targe design.


I think with the targe padded on the area inside the ring of stitches this will provide enough visual interest and depth. This will 'puff up' slightly the central area providing a more three dimensional face and 'relief' like on the double stacked targe. The padding will either be felted wool or a special pad material made for this purpose.

I've scribed in the first two stitch lines as well, one on the targe (though this WILL be moved outward toward the pinked edge by 3/32"~) and the first stitch line on the upper collar (this will most likely be brought slightly inward toward the first row of perforations by
about the same distance - I did these by hand without my good compass scribe)