Fur/Pelt sporrans

**rmmcscott** · 12th October 07, 10:56 AM

Has anyone had experience with making their own animal pelt sporrans? I'm kinda thinking I want a mink one, but not sure about making it. I guess I have a couple of questions...

1) Should I line it with thin leather?

2) What about the heads? What do you think about heads on?

3) If I were to use it for dress, would a headed sporran be appropriate? Or should I get a cantel (sp?) to put on it to dress it up?

Thanks in advance for the feedback!

Raptor · 12th October 07, 02:56 PM

To the best of my knowledge, a masked (head on) fur sporran is the only one accepted as suitable for both day & formal wear

**turpin** · 12th October 07, 03:42 PM

Unless the leather in the pelt is strong and relatively thick, a thin leather piece lining the gusset is good. The front panel and gusset are usually cut from the pelt. The fur should be glued to a same-shaped piece of 3-4 oz veg-tan died to your chosen color (grain side inwards. The back panel is 4-5 oz. veg-tan leather or some other leather that holds it's body, but not TOO stiff (grain side out).

The edges of the front panel get sewn to the veg-tan when you sew on the gusset between the two panels. Depending on how you want to work the gusset, it may be helpful to sew the bag inside-out, then invert it once the gusset is attached. I ususally clip about 1/4 to 3/8 inch of hair away from the edges to facilitate sewing and avoid pulling fur though the sewing holes (I pre-punch my holes with a 4-prong diamond-shaped punch (Tandy Leather Factory). A bit of beeswax and embroidery floss make excellent cheap sewing thread for leather.

Mink pelts are quite small so you may have to sew two or three together to get a piece large enough for a panel, and be sure to have the grain of the fur running vertically downwards. I have seen a mink sporran from three pelts and the naker included all three heads.

Speaking of heads, that is the most time-consuming part of a mask sporran; getting the head to look good. You need a pelt with eye holes that aren't torn up. a small bullet hole can be sewn shut or patched if need be, bu big rips will show. To mak a head form go to an art store and get a papier mache product to which you just add water. a hollow cardboard egg from a hobby shop makes a good mold and you can add to the egg as needed to suit the head. Get some suitable glass eyes from Van Dykes taxidermy supplies online.

I'd suggest trying beaver or muskrat. Beautiful fur and you won't have to piece together the pelts.

And yes, a full-mask sporran is acceptable for day or evening wear.

be sure to post pics of the results!!

**ccga3359** · 12th October 07, 04:03 PM

Had Turpin not piped in so soon this thread could have been longer. Alas now, the master has spoken. Good luck with your sporran.

**PiobBear** · 12th October 07, 10:47 PM

For my head-on red fox, I used a $20 stole from EBay; the head was already taxidermied. I bonded mine to stiff leather, with a garment leather gusset.

**turpin** · 13th October 07, 07:23 AM

Originally Posted by ccga3359

Had Turpin not piped in so soon this thread could have been longer. Alas now, the master has spoken. Good luck with your sporran.

Thank you, Grant. However, I don't claim Master Sporran Maker status in any way. If I did my prices would be WAY higher (and I'd sell fewer sporrans). I was just passing along the things I have learned by doing in making mask sporrans like these.