How to do the "pleated" or shell appearance on bag front

[Roger B]

I really like the above appearance on bags and would like to try it myself.  How do you do it and what weight leather do you use?
Roger B.

[Hungry Horse]

They’re made pretty much like rolled, and pleated, upholstery is done. Two layers of thin leather make up the pleated panels. They are sewn together around the edges, and along the pleat lines, then the tubes formed are filled with some type of padding material. If you cover the tops of the pleats with a flap that folds toward the inside, instead of sewing them up, you could fill the pleats with patching material, and or tow.

  Hungry Horse

[James Rogers]

Create your pattern so that your front piece bigger than its backing and is sewn in rolls so that it has room to expand when you stuff it. The stuffing is not removable patching or wadding but for the padded effect only, mimicking staddle and collar stuffs. Where have you seen such bags?

[Roger B]

I've seen them online & around at different shows.  I think my major problem will be laying out the the gentle curve that gives them the shell appearance on the front piece.
Roger B.

[James Rogers]

My comment was a little tongue in cheek. If this is what you have seen, it was one of mine or one someone had copied from my design. I created that shoulder bag style some years ago and have made a bunch of them. It's one of my signature designs. This one went to MO this week.

[P.W.Berkuta]

Gosh -- now I understand what is meant by rolled & pleated here - on car upholstery it's called tuck & rolled - same idea. Great looking bag by the way James !

[Roger B]

My friend Mike Beathe made some that I admired and that got me interested. Are there any original examples? Even if not, they are certainly beautiful.
Roger B.