Revisiting my first sporran

[Semiomniscient]

Okay, so some time ago, I worked on my first sporran using leather from an old purse I picked up at a thrift store. Thread can be read here: http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/m...x.html?t=37435

I've never worn it as is. I have some nice sporrans and I didn't at all care for it. It was a project intended to learn something (mainly how to hand-sew leather.)

Recently, I've been practicing braiding techniques. I've used leather laces for this practice. I got bored and started reworking my old sporran. I think I've made quite an improvement. It's still rustic looking, but a far cry better than before. I might mention that I only used a leather awl and laces, to punch holes and hand tied the laces. Not really easy (and I'm not sure quite how sturdy it will be!) But let me know what you think.

BEFORE:


AFTER:

[Semiomniscient]

Bytheway, anyone else kit-bashed a purse?

[Tobus]

The edge lacing on the flap...

did you braid that separately and then just tack it in place? It looks like you have some "ties" every so often that secures it to the edge of the flap.

There's a method for edge-lacing that looks really nice and is fairly simple to do, once you get the hang of it. It requires punching holes all along the edge, and then it's a two-needle process (using flat lacing needles). Are you familiar with what I'm talking about?

Your braid work looks like it's off to a good start. I would recommend practice, practice, practice. The more you braid, the better your braids will look. The key to a good braid is consistency in the tension and 'wrap' of each piece as you braid it. Whether it's on a 3-part, 4-part, or even up to a 12-part braid. It's also a tad more difficult to learn to braid using flat lacing material, since it will want to twist while you're working (I can see where you struggled with that in your braidwork). Have you considered buying some round lacing material? It makes things MUCH easier and gives more uniform results.

[Semiomniscient]

Yeah, I noticed how it would turn. I got a little lazy and didn't correct it. I definitely will need to practice. That is what these braids were actually for... I just decided to redo my sporran on a whim with them. And yes, I did tack down the braid along the edge. I don't know how well I did it either. It's not a great job, but I think it's an improvement, and I think I might actually wear this to a picnic or something of equivalent occasion.

[MacLowlife]

Have you considered some more lacing / tassels on the sides?

One time I chopped the flap off of a full body alligator purse and made it into a flap for a sporran. The purses are fairly easy to find on eBay, but usually old and a little bit brittle. The original sporran flap is still underneath and supports the gator head. Best of all, the brown flap on the black sporran body gives me a universal color scheme.


http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Geniune-...item3efd56e5d4