My first sporran, and a desperate plea for help!

[Tobus]

I pretty much agree with what others have said.

I can see why he didn't like the stitching. That style of stitching is more appropriate for saddles and such, but isn't traditional on sporrans. I do all my stitching by hand, too. But I use a much smaller stitch length (double-needle technique) and use a waxed thread that's colored to match the leather. It looks like you were using sinew (or simulated sinew)?

The smaller thread length and matching (or neutral) thread, along with smaller stitch length, will draw attention away from the stitching and toward the tooling. That's what you want to showcase - the tooling!

For several years I hand-made custom leather gun accessories as a hobby. The hand-stitching was by far the longest and most tedious part of the process, but once I had a system it wasn't too bad. I laid out every stitch by hand - making sure that the holes in both pieces matched. Using a wheel won't guarantee that. So I would measure, mark, and punch every stitch hole by hand, using a max stitch length of about 1/8" to 3/16" max. As you can see, the smaller stitch length makes the stitching look cleaner and tidier, while blending into the background and letting the decoration stand out.





While all the advice offered by others is grand, I think making some stitching changes will make the biggest visual difference in the appearance of your sporrans to get to the more traditional look.

[Chas]

Hello Lea,

I agree with most of the above, but would add this - I would wear it!

Welcome to XMarks from the other side of the Atlantic in Norfolk, England.

Regards

Chas

[Lea Evans]

Thanks you all so much for your encouraging words.

All of this is helpful beyond belief, I'm not quite sure why I waited until AFTER finishing my first sporran to post questions. But then again, I guess problems dont present themselves until after the fact ;-)

I have been using a star wheel, though looking back should probably have used a smaller one, it seems the distance between stitch holes are a bit long to me looking back at it now. As for a "double-needle saddle stitch", I'll be honest, Greek to me. I've ordered a book on stitching leather and hope this will clean my work up greatly. All the stitching I have done so far has just been me literally just figuring it out on my own. Story of my life.

Thank you for teaching me the term "gusset" and "bead trim". Particularly bead trim, I have seem this on several pieces and have been at a loss as to where to start. I know that in itself will improve the appearance of my work by strides.

My next sporran I plan to make black, so the leather and gusset will all be the same color. Admittedly I used leather I had on hand for the gusset of this piece. I didnt really foresee the mixmatch of colors between everything when I started on it. My sinew is natural.... will have to look into finding it in black if it exists.

If not using sinew... what other thread types would you recommend?

Note taken on the width of the hangar, I would have never thought of that. I was also told I need to add D-rings for chains, so that will be another thing to add to my next project.

Thank you all so, so much. Your selfless sharing of knowledge means more than you can imagine.

@ Scottop & Bigkahuna - at the moment, my first several are going directly to the Highland Cattle rancher who supplied me with the fur. But after that... and I have more clean and professional work to offer, I will be more than happy to discuss commissions! I have a LOT of this beautiful highland cattle fur to work with, and am giddy to put my heart into doing these beasts justice through art.

[Semiomniscient]

Very interesting. It's not my style and I can understand most, if not all the critiques. But I think it has something special about it and I think it has a very rustic look minus the studs. Keep it up and let's see how the next one comes out.

[MacLowlife]

I like your sporran, but probably wouldn't wear it a lot. That is mostly because I wear my kilt as dress and semi-dress. I think it is a fine, rustic design and would be great for daywear, assuming the size is OK. Others have covered that pretty well.

If yours is too small, I am sure someone would welcome it as a belt bag or other ( less standardized ) pouch. And the Child's sporran suggestion is a great one.

Many commercial sporrans have a "double ender" attachment that allows you to clip a sporran strap to it. The double ender is threaded through the loop on the back. I expect many of them get lost over time. I agree, your loop should probably be wider.

At the risk of being crude, we are talking about something hung in front of a man's crotch. Many men like the "surrogate size" effect, meaning bigger is better. But even for those who are secure, it ought to be big enough to carry something, as described above.

Your design is inventive and attractive. I wouldn't worry a lot about making it dressier- plenty of men need interesting daywear sporrans.

[wildrover]

The hanger which passes through the strap at the back of the sporran is called a 'frog'...but I can see how a pair of D-rings would do the same job. I don't know if there's a particular reason to use a frog vs D-rings, but structurally, a frog would distribute the pull of the sporran along a greater area of the back, whereas D-rings will concentrate the stress. I have absolutely no idea if that has any relevance, tho.

There's no reason not to surround, or frame, the hair on three sides...but let it hang, rather than having it sticking out from the frame.

I agree with the rest of the guys, less is more...as in, it would look really good if the sides were the same color as the front, and the stitching were either black, or color-matched.

As far as pouch size, a larger and deeper pouch would also accommodate more hair on the front...layered, if you will, giving the appearance of longer hair than you're actually using. Don't forget Michael McIntyre's comments at the end of his skit..."and it's gonna be HAIRRRRY!"

Don't lose heart...the colors are great, I like the tan liner with the red cover, the hair is really cool, and there's certainly nothing wrong with your tooling!

-Sean

[Brian K]

Lea,

I'm hoping to get my first kilt this year - I need to lose weight and gain money - and if I'm ever in the position to pay for a custom sporran, I'm hoping I remember you're a member here, because I want one of these! Sure, modify the size a bit and change the hanger in the back, but I like the look of this!

Good luck, lass,

Brian

[dutchy kilted]

I have to admit I kind of like it, except for the stitching. I would not worry about the tooling under the flap, just the outer flap. Check out a bunch of other sporrans on eBay or listed for sale on the advertisers on this site for dimensions.

Since you make masks as well, try making a matching mask/sporran set - perfect for a Scottish Halloween!

Keep posting pics!

[Lea Evans]

Thank you guys, thank you thank you thank you. You are all gems.

I actually just got home from a local tanner who has been helping me tan some highland cattle hides I received from the rancher I befriended. So now I have another whole tanned Highland Cattle hide to work with. I've got my work cut out for me though, as he didn't finish it for me... I've got several hours of bristle brushing and sanding the skin side to soften & pretty it up before it will be ready to use.


I've already got another whole hide sitting in the guest room (which might end up as a throw because it is just THAT beautiful)

So.... with that hide above... I've got a LOT of practice ahead of me with these sporrans.

dutchy that is a FANTASTIC idea. I have been planning on making a mask for the rancher using some of his fur for embellishment... but I hadn't thought of doing pairs. ;-)

Thanks again everyone for your advice and well-wishing.

I will post again once I begin sporran # 2.. and will be taking every bit of advice to heart.

Cheers!

[Tobus]

As for a "double-needle saddle stitch", I'll be honest, Greek to me.

There are several online descriptions of the technique if you Google it.

But basically, you're doing all the stitching with a single length of thread, using one needle on each end. We'll call them needle A and needle B. You start by putting needle A through your first hole and pull it back through the next hole. Pull the thread through until you have even length on both ends. In other words, both needles should be pulled taut and have the same length of thread between them and the holes. You then take needle B and put it through the same hole needle A came out of (but needle B is going back through the other direction). Then pull it taut. Now needles A and B are on opposite sides of the leather.

You keep alternating each needle through each hole, criss-crossing each other. You'll notice that it's easy to get the first needle through the hole but the second one can be a bit of a pain since the hole is already "full" with the thread from the first needle. If it's TOO difficult, your holes were not punched large enough. And if it's too easy, the holes were punched too large. After you do it a while, you'll find the right balance on punching the holes and getting the needles through.

Side note: I use plain waxed thread that you can find at any leather working store, and I do it with glover's needles. They're a LOT easier to get through the holes than the large hand-stitching needles most folks will try to sell you. The only difficult thing about glover's needles is that when you get that second needle halfway through the hole, you have to push it through and it can start to hurt after a while. Make yourself a leather wrap for your thumb or use a thimble to get it most of the way through, and use a small set of pliers to grab the other end and pull the needle all the way through.

And before moving on to the next hole, pull each end fairly tight. You don't want a loosey-goosey stitch. But don't over-tighten, either.

Anyway, you keep criss-crossing your needles through the holes until you get to the end. Then you simply change direction and back-stitch a couple of holes. Then trim the thread, use a lighter to melt the ends and press them into the stitches, and it's done. This stitch will hold a LOT of load.

I don't know if any of that made any sense, but if you Google it, you'll find visual aids. It's a very simple stitching technique and works great. I never could master the lock stitch using an awl or any of that stuff.