Next project...

[turpin]

Hi Turpin,
I have ortdered a heavy deer skin (in black) of 3-4 oz weight to use for a sporran. Will this work ok for the pouch and the flap/front stiffner ?
Gordon of Clan MacHardy origin.

That should be fine for the pouch, but you'll need something more substantial for the stiffener in the fron and the closure flap. One square foot of 7-8 oz tooling leather (about 1/8 inch or 3 mm thick), or a similar stiff type of leather is needed. You might find an old pair of boots or handbag at a thrift store that would do. To keep all the parts that show looking good I glued and then sewed the elkskin over the flap, which you can see here. Sorry for the slight focus problem.

[BLAZN]

Take a deep breath, BLAZN, and remember; patience is a virtue.

Not necessarily one I was gifted with.

The tools I used for mine were a fabric cutting roller to cut the leather, waxed embroidery thread (I used a chunk of beeswax), lacing needle, diamond-shaped 4-prong punch, water clean-up leather weld, 3/16" eyelets and eyelet punch. You will need to use some 3-4 oz. oil-tanned or tooling leather as front stiffener and flap. You can start working on some concptual templates for cutting the fron and back on ggraph paper. Make sure to add a seam allowance to your finished dimensions.

I've got most of the tools to make the sporran, though my punch only does one whole at a time.
As for the stiffer leather... I'll have to use my leather glue (some Tandy brand stuff) to unite the gray suede with the brown leather I'll have to use as a stiffener. As far as templates... I've looked ay your sporran and the Freelanders over and over and can't seem to grasp the concept. As soon as I have a pattern, I'll be good to go.

[BLAZN]

Well... I got the book, finally.

Started on the project... photos forthcoming. I'm atthe point where I need to punch the drawstring hole, attach the flap, and put on a closure.

Show of hands... who thinks a small bit of rabbit fur on the flap would be going overboard? Who thinks it'd turn out nicely?

[turpin]

try the rabbit with a bit of painters tape to see how it looks befroe committing to glue

[BLAZN]

try the rabbit with a bit of painters tape to see how it looks befroe committing to glue

Good idea.

I just finished punching holes and lacing the drawstring. Hafta figure out what I wanna use for a closure, then run the rawhide for the closure strap. Also need to run a belt hanging device.

Pictures will come as soon as I return from my workout.

[BLAZN]

As promised... photos of my gray suede Rob Roy style sporran.

The pieces (sans front stabilizer, which is already glued on but not visible):


Front panel with stabilizer glued into place. My wife thought I should put the stabilizer on the outside, but I didn't. C'est la vie.


Front view, "fully" assembled. I haven't done a closure yet. Modeled by Alex, my 9 year old son.


Back view. I had intended to put the stabilizer on the inside, but... it's covering up a faux paus. Seen here modeled by Princess Jocelyn, my 4 year old daughter. In hind sight... I'm not sure why I punched the holes, other than the "pattern" had them. Not sure why.


Inside view. Again, modeled by Princess Jocelyn.


Frontal view with the rabit fur taped into place. I like the look of the fur. Should I or shouldn't I?


I'm open to comments, criticisms, and suggestions.

[BLAZN]

"Finished" product:

[McMurdo]

I like it with the rabbit fur, and you have adorable little ones there you are a lucky man.