Ever use a purse as a sporran ?

[Woodsman]

I wouldn't. With Scottish made sporrans starting at $45 or so, I would use "the right tool for the right job" and get a proper sporran.

For the belt, I'd probably go wthout a belt (as it's not really completely NECESSARY to wear a belt with a kilt) before I wore woman's belt.

To each their own, but that's my $.02, FWIW.

I agree with Rocky here. I purchased a Rob Roy sporran from his store for my USAKilts' casual kilt and I couldn't be happier with the look. It was well worth the price. The only other viable option I could see would be an attempt to make your own sporran.
Woodsman

[Bugbear]

There was time when my entire kilt outfit cost about $100, so a $40 sporran was beyond my reach. . I tried looking at the Army Navy for a suitable pouch, with no luck, but I found a simple purse in the ladies dept at TJ Maxx that I hooked up with a couple of choke chains from the pet store and wore for years. In fact, I think I have it on in my avatar... square, simple flap, flexible black leather. NOT elegant, but it carried my car keys nicely.

I would have grabbed that tan number in a minute, but I am with you on the ladies' belts. I go without often enough...

What I REALLY like, though, is the idea of a lady carrying a sporran as an evening bag. I am still looking for the right combination of sporran and lady. You'd have to modify the strap a little to wear it as a shoulder bag....

Yes, that's very modern, MacLowlife, the lady should have to hold the gentleman's sporran.

[OftKilted]

As a disclaimer, I own several SWK Kilts, but I'm not affiliated with them, and they are one of the X Marks Sponsors:

http://stores.channeladvisor.com/Sti...20Accessories/

For a grand total of $14.95 (plush shipping and handling) you can get an entry level sporran from SWK. (And it comes with a 43" chain.)

Spend $9 more and you can get their SWK Nightstalker Nylon Sporran.

Both of the above items are an excellent value going as an 'entry' level items go. With an entry level kilt, an entry level sporran, some socks and flashes you could possibly make it at right at the $100 range.

The entry level sporran isn't bad, is readily identifiable as a sporran (and you won't mistake it for something else) and you can hold your keys and a smaller wallet in it. (Or wallet and smartphone.)

And then just upgrade as you can.

And remember, as at least one other person has in their .sig file here on the forum, while Kilts may shrink with age, your sporran and accessories last forever!

[gary meakin]

I say no as well.
Even if it looks like something else, women's clothing is women's clothing.
I saw pleated field hockey skirts at our local Salvaton Army but I wouldn't buy them as a low cost substitue for a kilt. There are plenty of low cost options out there without having to resort to wearing women's clothing

[Tartan Hiker]

Back to the OP's original question...

If it is of adequate size (and of good enough material to make the effort worthwhile) I think it could be converted into a sporran quite nicely. I'd replace that metal thingy with an antler crown, add a braided leather loop to hold the flap closed, maybe a couple or three braided leather tassels up front, shift the strap keeper to the rear, and there you go.

Of course, I have all that stuff lying around and have a serious penchant for making silk purses out of sow's ears, so the grand total of my investment would be $3 and a few hours of labor.

I think it's worth a go, Matty.

[artificer]

And remember, as at least one other person has in their .sig file here on the forum, while Kilts may shrink with age, your sporran and accessories last forever!

Aye, That'd be me Of course, in the interest of full disclosure, I MAKE custom sporrans.

ith:

[TwoTone]

If you think it looks like a good sporran, who am I to judge?

Personally, I don't like the looks of it. I don't care if it started out as a purse.

[OftKilted]

Back to the OP's original question...

...

Of course, I have all that stuff lying around and have a serious penchant for making silk purses out of sow's ears, so the grand total of my investment would be $3 and a few hours of labor.

I think it's worth a go, Matty.

If the work and modification is something that you would enjoy, then sure. Go for it. Repurposing can be thrifty and enjoyable. (At least one modern kilt-maker out there does that for their fabric.)

If you were not doing that ... then I would lean towards no.

That being said, Troop 7 has patterns for making sporrans out of cardboard and cloth. ( http://www.troop7.net/Resources/6.%2...%20Pattern.pdf ) With a little work the purse would be nicer than that one.

If you think it works, then you have your answer :-)

Just remember, if you ever get into an argument, always try walking a mile in the other person's shoes. Because, when you're done with that walk you're a mile away and they're barefoot.

Happy Crafting and Making!

[AFS1970]

I too think that a purse is a purse and a sporran is a sporran, however I have a story that says otherwise. My brother works for a charity that runs a thrift shop and often has to work in the shop. One day he saw hanging on a rack a sporran marked "lady's purse" for sale for $5 or $10. Someone had donated it in a box of stuff and none of the other staff knew what it was. however it was there with the chain, and it came home with him.

[Mikilt]

I too think that a purse is a purse and a sporran is a sporran, however I have a story that says otherwise. My brother works for a charity that runs a thrift shop and often has to work in the shop. One day he saw hanging on a rack a sporran marked "lady's purse" for sale for $5 or $10. Someone had donated it in a box of stuff and none of the other staff knew what it was. however it was there with the chain, and it came home with him.

I frequently scan the ladies rack at my local thrift store for signs of tartan. You never know when a kilt will be mis-identified as ladies wear.