Making my own sporran

[David in Maryland]

I decided I want to make my own pouch style sporran. So here is a picture of me working on it.



I have fleshed the deer hide, and now currently removing the hair and grain. Once done with the tanning process, this hide will turn into an ultra suede known as buckskin, and then turned into a sporran. This is a very soft material that will be perfect for pouch style sporrans such as the Rob Roy. The hide comes from my hunting this past year.

[GMan]

We have proof, someone is actually working!!!

Great shot, and I think that a buckskin sporran will definetly look awesome. Cannot wait to see the finished product.

[Big Paul]

Outstanding! Now that's useing as much of the animal as you can... Well done and congrats from one hunt to another..

I can't wait to see it completed.

[Tartan Hiker]

I'm sure glad somebody got a deer this season!

[toadinakilt]

Very nice...I'm not the greatest wi' me hands, but I think if I just start making stuff, no matter how bad, I'll eventually get the hang of it. Everybody has to start somewhere.

I love this forum, I get so inspired.

[Moosehead]

A cellist in a kilt is a cellist and a half.

Or, a cellist who just cut off half!

Geez, did I just say that? Bad Mr. Teacher.

[JayFilomena]

Good on ya for taking up the project. No matter how it turns out, I am pretty sure it will be your favorite sporran. How long will the process take? when can we expect photos?

Jaybird

[ozmeath]

Awesome david and most inspiring. I've only decided to do same but I'll take the short cut and buy the leather. Bloody great to see you doing the hard yards. Keep us up to date on the process.

Erin.

[David in Maryland]

How long will the process take? when can we expect photos?

Jaybird

As for how long, if I did not have a job during the weekdays, I would probably be cutting the leather this upcoming weekend. In order to remove the hair and grain easily, you soak the hide in an akaline solution, typically wood ash, lime, or lye, mixed with water. This causes the hide and grain to swell. I have finished removing the grain and hair, and am now soaking the hide in water to rinse out the akaline, to make the hide soft again. This only takes a couple of days. Once rinsed, I have to scrape the flesh side of the hide again to remove the membrane, about 10 minutes. If you ever had suede that was real nappy, it is because all the membrane was not removed. Than I can soak it over night in an emulsified fat, which softens the hide, wring out, and soak again. Then you procede to stretching the hide out to dry it, this takes a few hours. Once the hide is dry, it is preserved and will last. Then you smoke it to color it and to add a final layer of preservation. Without smoking the hide is white in color, but the only thing you have to worry about destroying the hide would be bugs. Smoke it, and the bugs leave it alone. This process is called braintanning, because typically you use the animal's brain mixed with water to soak the hide. You can also use eggs or Dove soap mixed with neatsfoot oil as an emulsified fat. I will post a photo of each step of me making my sporran, or I should say making the leather to make my sporran.