h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

When I did my first sporran, I decided to add the flap to the back piece. This was a mistake - I should have made the front and back the same size, then added a rabbit skin to the back with glue, so that it would flap over the front. My sporran ended up being very stiff and too small. So make yours larger than you think it should be.

Here's how I made a sporran. It doesn't involve a sewing machine, but you will need a hole punch, leather hammer, leather lace or silk cord, thick leather (6-7 oz.), a rabbit skin, and thin dyed upholstery leather (2-3 oz.)

I recommend making a pattern first out of newsprint. It should look like a half-circle, with a fat bottom. Make it as big as you want - it's your sporran. This will be the front and back.

Now that you have your pattern created, cut your pieces of leather out. Use a pair of nice scissors. It's hard to cut a curved line with a knife. If you have any leather tools, now is a good time to play with them. You'll need to wet the leather down first before you do any tooling. Mark a series of holes along the front. These will be your punch holes, so make sure they're evenly spaced. I use two pencils taped together, and mark each hole with one of the pencil points on the previous hole. Punch your leather with a piece of leather underneath. Trust me, this is the only way to get nice, clean holes. I find that wet leather is easier to punch holes in, too.

Once you have your holes punched on the front, take your back piece, line it up with the front, and use a pencil to mark through each hole and on the back piece of leather. Punch the same holes again on the back piece.

Now is when you'd dye or paint the leather. Dyeing leather will make it very stiff. Painting it will let it keeps its flexibility. That front piece really does need to be stiff to look authentic, but it's up to you.

Take the thin leather - pre-dyed and treated upholstery leather is good for this. (Soft and flexible!) Cut a wide strip out, and line it up with the front edge of your sporran. You're going to have to punch more holes. Leave lots of room between the edge of your leather and the hole - these holes will stretch, and you'll end up with a torn sporran and lost possessions. This is a rather finicky part of the process, and you'll end up cussing several times as you try to figure out how the leather will lay around the edge of the front piece. Mark each hole by lining it up with the front piece, and do the same with the back. Then punch the holes, either with the hole punch and a hammer or with a hand punch.

Now you're ready to put the sporran together. Make a big knot in your leather lace, and start threading it together. I find an over-under works pretty good - keep in mind the look of the wallets we used to make in camp, and you'll get the idea pretty quick.

Now you can glue the rabbit skin to the back of the sporran, and you're ready to go.

But wait! How do you wear it?

There's several options. You can always punch two pairs of holes in the back, and attach a couple of loops (2 leather strips, four rivets, and two D-loops.) Then you can either add chain (traditional) or a thick cloth belt to tie around your waist. You can also make two vertical cuts in the back of your sporran, and thread your belt through it. It's your choice - just don't screw it up!

soooo much for the instructions. I'm tempted to call my cousin and make him log on right now but it's 12:30am so he's probably sleeping.

Having a flap that is part of the back shouldn't be a problem as long as the leather is good and supple... I have 4 pouches of various types which I bought and a little box pouch which I made and they all have integral flaps.

That being said the rabbit skin flap is rather a good idea. But be careful: rabbit skin explodes in the presence of blades... I did some work with the stuff nearly two months ago and I'm *still* finding bits of fur.

Anyway, all this talk of leatherwork has inspired me and I now want to make some leather armour because 1) it will be slightly cheaper and 2) it will have the words "Don't... no, wait... let's try that again: 2) I can guarentee it will fit me well. (Contrary to all visual evidence leather armour for LARPers seems to be designed for people who are all buff and well-proportioned).

Thanks again!

Thanks for all the advice everyone. I think I will make My first oneout of canvase 'cause its alot easier to work with then leathr but I will definately make one out of leather once i have the just of making one down.

Thanks Much!