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

[thescot]

Your designs and ruminations are extremely detailed and interesting. I can see how your design considerations come along and how you have made important choices that have produced a most attractive sporran.

This is one of the best threads I've ever had the pleasure of reading. Thanks.

That is going to be one terrific sporran when you finish.

[BoldHighlander]

This is one of the best threads I've ever had the pleasure of reading. Thanks.

That is going to be one terrific sporran when you finish.

Hear! Hear!

On a side note: for some reason Scott, I kind of like the 1st design
But whichever design you choose I know it's going to be a beauty!

[Downunder Kilt]

Artificer, thanks for the continuation of this fantastic thread. I am of the the same preference as Bold Highlander in that I think your No 1 photo is the best.
I don't think the additional layer makes it too busy but adds dimension and body (if that makes sense) I realise in No3 you are trying to create that also, but think No1 does it more successfully.

[artificer]

Your designs and ruminations are extremely detailed and interesting. I can see how your design considerations come along and how you have made important choices that have produced a most attractive sporran.

This is one of the best threads I've ever had the pleasure of reading. Thanks.

That is going to be one terrific sporran when you finish.

Thank you. This has been my most frustrating design in a long time. It's great to have a challenge, but I'll be really glad when I've sussed everything out.

...
On a side note: for some reason Scott, I kind of like the 1st design
But whichever design you choose I know it's going to be a beauty!

Artificer, thanks for the continuation of this fantastic thread. I am of the the same preference as Bold Highlander in that I think your No 1 photo is the best.
I don't think the additional layer makes it too busy but adds dimension and body (if that makes sense) I realise in No3 you are trying to create that also, but think No1 does it more successfully.

I know why you both feel this way. The targe looks a bit plain right now. To me and both of you. I'm going to have to actually build a test piece to truly be settled on a design.

One thing that you aren't seeing in picture #1 is the additional ring of stitches that will have to ride RIGHT inside of the pinking on the inner targe, which I'm fearing will clutter everything up. Possibly to the point of interfering visually with the studded detail. This is obviously the LAST thing I want, as it is the primary decorative element on the piece.

I've gone back and forth, but am still fairly certain #3 will be the way to go. I will be making a fully padded, stitched, and riveted mock-up before I advance the design any further, to make sure I'm on the right track.

If the #3 mock up isn't satisfactory, I'll be tracking back to #1 to see if I can re-engineer the stitching issue.

Since this one detail doesn't change the general construction, it may be the case that I end up with two fully realized patterns

Hopefully, I'll be able to get the mock-up done tomorrow.
Today is a big family picnic for Father's Day with my dad and grandfather.

Thanks again everyone for the interest and very helpful comments.

[Ryan Ross]

Now you're getting into the area that I would term "modern traditional" sporran design. By that, I mean a sporran that Jock would wear.

I can't think of an individual artisan that produces such pieces, off the top of my head, though I feel there certainly must be some. At any rate, it looks fantastic and I'm sure this project will come out very well.

...and please do keep the pics coming.

[Kiltman]

Thanks for keeping us up on your progress.

[RB51]

Great work Scott. Just to be a bit contrary, I kind of like the look of #3 a bit better; the design is cleaner. I do like the layout of the studs on the targe; not having the small studs on the cardinal points makes, I think, for an interesting look. The pinking shear does a nice job, and probably a lot quicker than the method I used

Keep the pics coming!

Laurie

[artificer]

Now you're getting into the area that I would term "modern traditional" sporran design. By that, I mean a sporran that Jock would wear.

I can't think of an individual artisan that produces such pieces, off the top of my head, though I feel there certainly must be some. At any rate, it looks fantastic and I'm sure this project will come out very well.

...and please do keep the pics coming.

Thanks again for the encouragement, if I can create something Jock would wear, all my sporran making goals will be satisfied. As for pix, there are more in the works.

Thanks for keeping us up on your progress.

Great work Scott. Just to be a bit contrary, I kind of like the look of #3 a bit better; the design is cleaner. I do like the layout of the studs on the targe; not having the small studs on the cardinal points makes, I think, for an interesting look. The pinking shear does a nice job, and probably a lot quicker than the method I used

Keep the pics coming!

Laurie

Thanks Laurie, nothing wrong with a bit of contraflow (unless you're on the highway). The shears I got do a fabulous job, which is a treat, as a good pinking iron costs between $170 and $300US. I've already decided that I'm going to dye and wax the cut edges for an extra crisp finish- And with all the perforations and pinking this sporran has, it's a LOT of edge touch-up!

In addition to actually making the sporran, I've already been experimenting with blending various spirit dyes to make sure accompanying straps/belts are as close to the bag as possible.


Now, on to the progress.
I've just finished the petal folds, and have just cut the patterns for both the raw piece and the finished folds- to keep all the petals straight and consistent.

Also, I spent a few hours yesterday evening and early this morning re-working a few details on the bag.

The upper perforations have been finalized. I decided after TONS of trials that I will not be going for multiple hole sizes and patterns. Basically just two simple half circles, simple and elegant. You can't see the light dashed lines that indicate stitch lines on the upper collar, but they bracket the outer edge of the top perfs and the lower edge of the bottom perfs. As a minor construction note, the upper stitch will be the one holding the 'purse lip's interior edge down.

I also restructured the central targe a touch, based on my feeling that it was just a touch TOO plain. I added a second ring of stitches. The padding will extend out to the outer ring, giving a nice raised, padded edge to the targe, in addition to the center padded relief. Hopefully this will add enough visual interest without the need for another ring of pinking.

Additionally, I picked up some very nice pigskin as a liner for the bag interior, in a medium caramel colour, similar in tone but different from the bag's exterior. This will give the bag interior a very nice clean finish with only one stitch showing (the front lip's lower stitch-thru).

I plan to start cutting up the good hide for the initial piece tonight- with a spot of luck

[Eleazar]

Luck has nothing to do with skill such as this. It is practice and experience coming together over time, it is. Yes in deed.

I am thoroughly enjoying a glimpse into your skill and talent.

Much appreciation.

[artificer]

Luck has nothing to do with skill such as this. It is practice and experience coming together over time, it is. Yes in deed.

I am thoroughly enjoying a glimpse into your skill and talent.

Much appreciation.

Thank you most kindly.
Unfortunately, luck DID have something to do with my progress, as we lost power for nearly 12 hrs the other night due to storms/tornado damage.

On the up side, I decided that I should just push forward. Mock-ups can only take me so far and I eventually come to the 'do-or-die' point in many projects...
Where you simply MUST commit (in this case to cutting up the good stuff).

HERE is the result of that push, as it sits right now (while the forums are fast)

I haven't finished the outer stitching ring on the targe, nor have I done any of the stitching on the top collar. From here you can get a decent idea of where it's headed. The targe is padded for some relief.

Stitching this thing is a monster. A stitch spacer (looks like a small spur) and small hand punch are used for all the thread holes. A pricking iron is too course, IMO, for face work on a nice leather like this. I had to skive a TON of leather off the back under the folds to get ANYWHERE (it's a really thick leather).

None of the edges have been dyed or waxed yet (I'm still working on the proper colour blend).

The slight asymmetry is mostly due to my lousy camera, but is also a result of the outer edges not being 'final trimmed' yet. After all the stitching is done I will shape the face edge before beginning gusset work.

Thoughts?