making a small start

[artificer]

I am thinking that the spotted side of the pelt should be visible at the periphery of the sporran. Otherwise, it may lack some of the cat-like character. Or possibly spotted fur tassels?

I don't think there's any way to have both the gorgeous shade that runs down the spine and the belly fur showing on the body of a sporran, tassels (depending on the sporran style) of the spotted under-fur would be quite nice.

Or you could save that part to use as a beautiful fur lining for cuffs of a winter jacket

[Mike_Oettle]

Interesting suggestion there, Scott. But what MacBean suggested was in fact what I had in mind.
The sporran-maker who was recommended to me didn’t think putting fur on the side of the bag would be a good idea, as it would wear away. But I imagine that if the fur is fixed to a fairly rigid sporran side (perhaps two or three layers of leather) it would escape the wear that was anticipated.

Rex (Thistledown), I don’t have a cantle in mind for this sporran. In fact, my hunter friend has promised to get me a whole rooikat pelt, including the face and ears, that I could use for a full mask sporran. As Tartan Tess remarked, this is a handsome-looking feline with beautiful ears.
By the way, rooikat translates into English as “red cat” – but this is hardly the same as my ginger tom!

NewEnglander, I can appreciate your feeling for this species. Domesticated cats are almost invariably adorable. But unfortunately the rooikat is a notorious predator of both sheep and game, and is routinely trapped as vermin. This one was trapped on a farm where both sheep and kudu are kept.
I would not want the pelt of a tame animal – except possibly as a memento of a beloved pet, and I doubt that I would wear that.
Incidentally, I love your description of the game as being “pounce on the hippie”. I take it you are no longer a hippie?

Cygnus, it seems we were both wrong. I have just checked my copy of The Clans and Tartans of Scotland by Robert Bain, and the bird the hawk is preying on is a stork! (Not sure how I allowed myself to think it was a heron!)
I notice also that Bain lists the laurel as the Graham plant badge, so I presume that is what the wreath is.
I am giving serious thought to adopting the leaves of the Outeniqua yellowwood (Afrocarpus falcatus) as my own plant badge, to go with the tartans I have designed for my family.
Just lately I designed an Outeniqua Yellowwood tartan, which you can see on Scotweb, or on my Facebook album titled tartans.

azwildcat, you are right about this being an exciting aspect of Highland attire. What I like about it in particular is that I can use materials taken from animals found in my own country, and not be hidebound in using solely the traditional Scottish animals (or plants) – a blending of traditions, so to speak.
Regards,
Mike

[artificer]

Interesting suggestion there, Scott. But what MacBean suggested was in fact what I had in mind.
The sporran-maker who was recommended to me didn’t think putting fur on the side of the bag would be a good idea, as it would wear away. But I imagine that if the fur is fixed to a fairly rigid sporran side (perhaps two or three layers of leather) it would escape the wear that was anticipated.
...

Mike,
I wasn't advocating fur on the gusset, I was saying that I think it would be impossible to show the full width of the pattern (spine to belly) on ANY sporran.

The idea of the belly fur tassels is interesting though.

Certainly looking forward to the results with this gorgeous hide. Make sure to post pix when it gets 'sporran-ified'

[Mike_Oettle]

Indeed, Scott. But I imagine that is a problem with the fur of many animals.
I will look into the idea of belly fur for the tassels.
The sporran maker has suggested turk’s head tassels, but I will see how things turn out.
Regards,
Mike