Making A Leather Drawstring Pouch.

I needed to make a new larger pouch for my medical kit so that I could add some extra items, so I decided to make this video. I realise that this is a simple process, but that is probably because we have done this before. I have noticed quite a few people have made shot pouches with the stitching on the outside. For a repair this does not look too bad in some cases, but in a new pouch it can look strange. Some of my gunpowder bags have the stitching on the outside, but this is hardly noticed as the leather is thin and soft, and the stitches close and small. It is a personal choice I guess, but in shot pouches I have yet to see an original that has not been turned with the stitching on the outside.


Several people have contacted me and said that leather is very costly, and where do I get my leather from. Most of the leather items I make come from second hand leather, purchsed from an op-shop such as St Vincent De Paul, or the Salvation Army op-shop. It usually only costs a few dollars for a decent sized piece. The pouch in this video was made from a leather mini skirt!

Getting Started 2.

Getting Started 2.



In the first article on Getting Started I talked about items of clothing and doing the research on your choice of persona. For part 2 I will cover some basic equipment items.


Equipment:


For ordinary meetings you need very little in the way of equipment, a cup or mug of some description should suffice, plus perhaps a knife & spoon for eating.


A plain pottery or china cup or mug will not stand out. Non lead pewter mugs can be found in second hand shops & op-shops. A tin can with a handle soldered on is good, or failing this just a tin can. If soup or stew is on the menu then a cup or mug will be fine to eat out of.


Spoons these day are not very different to 300 years ago, so you can bring an ordinary desert spoon. Wooden spoons are good, as are horn spoons.

This is a wooden spoon that I purchased in a supermarket, three for $2.00. I cut the handle to size.

In the 18th century your belt knife served as your eating knife & most people carried one of some type or another.

Butcher knives like this one can often be found in second hand shops or op-shops at little cost and are ideal. Just make yourself a plain leather sheath with no belt loop.

This sheath I made from shoulder bag leather & covered with clothing weight leather & stitched with linen thread. The leather came from an op-shop.

Some form of bag is probably a good idea for going to meetings. It can carry your drinking vessel and also some food and anything else you have collected.

This scrip ( called a haversack in mid 18th century. Ref: Al Saguto) was made from second hand light canvas. Your local awning/tarpaulin maker may even sell you some scraps.

A knapsack made from a modern all cotton school bag. Another op-shop find.

The market wallet or market bag. Basically a long tube with the ends sewn shut and a slit in the middle for entry.

The snapsack, an easy bag to make. Often made of leather, but this one made of linen.

Simple inexpensive items are usually best, but please do your research first; this will help you make the right choices.

Snapsack & Market Wallet patterns: http://www.crookedtreefarm.com/history/snapsack/snapsack.html

http://www.18cnewenglandlife.org/18cnel/wallets.htm#Snapsack

http://www.crookedtreefarm.com/history/wallet/wallet.html

http://woodsrunnersdiary.blogspot.com/search?q=snapsack

http://woodsrunnersdiary.blogspot.com/search?q=market+wallet

Leather Pouches or Bags.

I have several leather pouches made to contain different materials. Drawstring pouches are good for any items that do not have to be kept dry. The closure on a drawstring pouch will not keep water out.
The easiest way to make a waterproof leather bag is to gather, fold and tie the top of the bag, or roll the top of the bag and of course grease it.

This drawstring fire-bag will work fine, so long as water can not get into the top. If submerged in water by a fall in the creek or the boat gets swamped, then the contents will get wet.

This fire-bag when the top is rolled down becomes half the size, and it will keep water out.

This gunpowder bag top has been gathered, folded over and then tied. Whether it contains gunpowder or spare tinder, it is important that no water gets inside. Food bags can be made and secured in the same fashion.