How many tassels ?

**Snowbear** · 5th December 08, 07:08 AM

I like the look of a sporran that stands out in the crowd, and I actually like this sporran. The number of tassels has actually never been that important to me and the extra two does make it stand out in the crowd.
Anyone got any reason why there's usual 3 tassels? Or mabe just critisism of wearing one of these sporrans (see the picture)?

**MacMillan of Rathdown** · 5th December 08, 08:22 AM

Is this sporran part of "The Emperor's New Highland Clothes" outfit?

Seriously, although three is the usual number (chosen for the mystical reason that three fit nicely on the front of a sporran), there really is no "set" or "required" number of tassels for a civilian day or evening wear sporran. If you like the look of a sporran, then buy it/wear it/enjoy it in good health.

**Ayin McFye** · 5th December 08, 08:41 AM

I have no clue why the standard number is normally three. It seems to be the trend among some of the Sonoran Scotsmen here in Arizona that we tend to keep losing one tassel somehow. (typically the tassels are very poorly attached).

That being said, I typically go for the no-tassel sporrans now. Since I know that I tend to lose them.

**Snowbear** · 5th December 08, 12:41 PM

Good to hear!

I bought this one cheap for £18 because it had a nice look. Besides the fact that I really like tassels. They are so nice to play with when things get boring and a lot of girls I meet seems to like to see them swing when dancing/walking. Just had to be sure there was'nt some kind of problems using it among relatives that actually knows a bit about sporrans; like when wearing a horse hair sporran it does mean a big difference if the metal part is silver or gold. Don't want to dump into odd questions why I hade them when I'm not "allowed" to wear them.

**An t-Ileach** · 5th December 08, 12:45 PM

I often make them with the 'standard' 3 tassels, but I suppose that there ought to be an even number as they are the drawstrings of the pouch and of any mini-pouches inside (for coins, etc). The Freelanders give the idea.

**Tim Little** · 5th December 08, 01:03 PM

Originally Posted by An t-Ileach

... I suppose that there ought to be an even number as they are the drawstrings of the pouch and of any mini-pouches inside (for coins, etc). The Freelanders give the idea.

I'd always imagined the tassels to be an artefact of the drawstrings, as you suggest.

Turpin shows how you can make 3 drawstrings out of 4:

**An t-Ileach** · 5th December 08, 01:10 PM

That's true, but it's essentially still the drawstrings. Maybe, though, that's how we ended up with the three that seem so common.

**MacMillan of Rathdown** · 5th December 08, 05:55 PM

The rules, at least the ones that I am aware of, concerning the shape of the cantle or the colour of the metal of the cantle only apply to those sporrans worn by the military. Civilian dress is totally free from these restrictions. That said, unless it is a family heirloom, it is probably best not to wear a military sporran with civilian dress.