Leather weight...

[BLAZN]

This one is for you sporran makers out there.

I've made a few sporrans myself, but one thing seems to elude me when it comes to making the soft sporran found in "So You Want To Wear a Kilt." I've only made two of them, and both are of the gray suede variety. I can't recall which weight the suede is, but it isn't as soft as I'd like it to be.
They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and as such I really have in mind something resembling one of the beautiful pieces that comes from Freelander. When I look at his, the leather seems to be a very soft and supple leather. My suede sporrans on the other hand do not have the same appearance.

The question here, now, is what weight leather are those of you who are also imitating the Freelander using? How thick in inches (or millimeters, if you so desire... I'll just have to convert to measurements I understand ) should my leather be?

[Joe Gondek]

try using deer hide instead of cow
cow hide even as a suede tends to be stiff and will not hang as well as deer or elk.

[James MacMillan]

To the best of my knowledge, I’ve never handled a Freelander sporran. In fact I can remember no of the brand names of sporrans that I have admired at different gatherings. I did go to their web-site and look at their offerings, and I must say that they don’t look like cowhide.

I have an old, very supple deerskin sporran that has a similar look and it to is soft.

I also am in the slow process of hand sewing a lambskin sporran that is very soft. But I have also seen very soft cowhide.

I don’t think it is a matter of weight, but of quality, tanning method, and animal – not mere thickness.

If you are buying your skins sight unseen, then I think you would be better advised to search out a hide, skin or leather supplier that you can actually touch and feel the product.

[CameronTaylor]

Are you using garment grade skins ? That's what my kilt is made out of and it's pretty soft.


CT -

[BLAZN]

If you are buying your skins sight unseen, then I think you would be better advised to search out a hide, skin or leather supplier that you can actually touch and feel the product.

Unfortunately, the nearest brick and mortar company where I can get leather is a good hour's drive away, and their selection is not good at all.
The next best place, that I know about, is in Connecticut, though it IS a Tandy store.

Are you using garment grade skins ? That's what my kilt is made out of and it's pretty soft.

I don't think they are garment grade. I usually buy my leather off of e-bay, and when I look for it, I look for statements to the affect of "good for making bags, pouches, etc."
I did find quite an array of deer skins on the e-bay store for my preferred leather seller. May have to invest in some.

[turpin]

Go to Kentucky Leather and Hide and order one of their 3-4 oz deerskins. They are nice and soft and supple. If you only want to make a sporran, ask for a smaller hide. They run 8-12 sq ft per hide at $3 a foot. You can get 4 oz elkskin as well for $4 a foot. good stuff, although it sometimes has what look like a stain here and there.

Leather thickness is expressed in ounces, which translates to 1/64" per oz. It is typically sold by the hide but priced by the sq ft. tanneries use a laser to measure the irregular surface accurately, and you end up with a good bit of scraps left over.