DIY Dress Sporran

**moovet** · 7th May 06, 08:41 PM

Hello all,

Hoping for a bit of help guys with some sporran making. I am a piper that is getting married in November and I want to make a dress sporran out of deer skins I have from animals I have shot to go with my kilt. I have struggled to find any designs, patterns or instructions on the web so far and hoped some of you could help.
I was wanting to make a dress sporan with a cantle and some deer skin tassles in a traditional pattern. I haven't worked with leather for a while but I am sure I am capable of it. Are there any books, references, websites etc that can take me through it step by step. I have about 15 deerskins so have plenty of room for error!! I will also need to find other suppliers for the cantle and tassels etc.

Would appreciate any advice etc from those that know!

CHeers,

Geoff

**chasem** · 7th May 06, 08:55 PM

I can't help you with the designs and such personally, but you've certainly come to the right place.

I know stillwaterkilts (http://www.stillwaterkilts.com) had some cantles, but I'm not sure if they still do.

either way, others here can help you out! Good luck and have fun.

**Piper** · 8th May 06, 05:35 AM

I've made a few sporrans (I believe I posted a picture of them on this board). Some were for personal use, some for trade or prizes (I run the Highland Games at some local black powder rendezvous). I made my dress sporran from a kangaroo pelt, using one of Stillwater's cantles. Stillwater doesn't always have cantles available, but they're frequently in stock. I'd check e-bay for cantles as well. As far as patterns, I just measured a couple of sporrans, and sketched out the shape on paper. I would use a medium weight leather for the back, about 3 -5 ounce. I'd also advise putting in a gusset. If you just sew the front to the back, it doesn't leave much room inside. I use a tapered gusset, wider at the bottom. Hope this helps, and good luck.

**beerbecue** · 8th May 06, 05:53 AM

Is any sort of reinforcement or backing needed on the fur front? Say stiff cardboard or something like rawhide?

I have found several sources for pelts, and a DIY would save hundreds of dollars.....

It would be great if we had a how-to like Alan H made for jackets....

Thanks for the input!! This has been good reading.....

**Tartan Hiker** · 8th May 06, 05:58 AM

Getting your hands on one that you like and copying it is certainly the best route if you have decent leather working skills, but working from photos works well too. Check the eBay listings for all the photos you could ever need.

There obviously is no one right way to do it, and with 15 hides you'll want to make several anyway. Make patterns out of paper...I rough out a pattern then make a final copy by tracing around buckets or paint cans to make uniform curves. Gusset material should be soft and at least 2" wide.

And, by the way, welcome to X-Marks.

**ozmeath** · 8th May 06, 07:21 AM

Geoff, I've made one and only recently. Good on you for wanting to give it a lash. Now there are no doubt plenty of other more experienced leather workers on this fine site but they appear to be less then forecoming, humble poppets they are. so here's the link to the thread that I have documented the process.
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=17283
As for a pattern you can just design one up to your exact specs I suggest. Symmetrical is about the only real guidelines I'd say. I drew it up, went over it in charcoal and pressed it against the leather. You can get symmetry similarly by charcoaling one half of your design and folding the paper to leave the reflection of it on the other side. Ta Daaa! perfect.
Feel free to ask me via post or PM about anything.I'll help if I can.
Erin.

**Bob C** · 8th May 06, 11:24 AM

Ozmeath's pics are great for making a day sporran, but moovet is looking to make a dress sporran, as am I. I've got the cantle from Stillwater and I'm trying to decide which pelt I want.

Beerbecue's question about a stiffener for the front is good. You'd need one to attach the cantle to. I guess my biggest questions are, do you stitch the hide to the stiffener and is it best to have a plain leather back or to cover that with fur, as well.

Anyone wnat to chime in?

**bubba** · 8th May 06, 11:40 AM

Best if the back is plain leather. The one I made the fur (faux fur, but it really doesn't matter) is cemented to a heavier leather on the front and to lighter leather for the gusset. I used heavier leather, like on the front, for the back. If you want more rigidity you can buy bag stiffener from outfits like Tandy Leather and sandwich it between two layers of leather.

**Bob C** · 8th May 06, 11:42 AM

Thanks, Bubba. I would not have thought of glue, but it makes sense.

**Tartan Hiker** · 8th May 06, 12:28 PM

I was in the craft shop a few days back looking at the "faux fox" material and realized two things.

1. It is a dead ringer for the real thing, especially at a distance, especially with a few tassles in the front, and most especially since it is worn where no one will be staring closely at it.

2. The backing on this faux fur is very supple. It would be easy to cut out a piece of this that is exactly the same size as the front of my black "semi-formal" sporran and stick it on with two-sided tape. That way I'd have a "convertible" sporran. The tape shouldn't harm the leather if not left on for weeks at a time or left in the hot sun. A bit of velcro around the edges may be usable as well. Still pondering this particular detail.