Hey everyone, been lurking around here for a bit as I wade into the world of leather but I need some help.
Judging by the search results I am not the only one who would like to try their hand at making a sort of Saddleback Leather inspired briefcase. I've been researching techniques for constructing it and composing a tools and materials needed list.
One of the big issues I am having is that I don't know what kind of leather to buy. I think I am right in saying I want something veg-tanned so that I can dye (stain?) it whatever shade of brown I decide on, and something around the weight of 5-6 oz. so that it is strong enough. Using the picture from Saddleback below as reference, when I'm sketching out my pattern I have two pieces that are 12.5" x 17" as the front and middle-divider panels; a piece that is (12.5" + a lot more that I have not yet determined) x 17" to serve as the back panel and flap that goes over the front; and two more pieces which I believe I am correct in calling gussets that are I think 2.5" x 42" that attach the panels to each other and serve as the sides and bottom; as well as a few more like the little doodads all over it and the shoulder strap.
I'm looking at Tandy and the Springfield Leather Co. sites to determine what kind and how much leather to buy but I don't know what pieces to get in regards to a single shoulder, a double shoulder, a side, a bend, a belly. For example, the shoulder strap is just a few inches thin but very long whereas the back panel is fairly large in both dimensions; I have no concept of how long and wide a shoulder might be versus how long and wide a belly might be so I don't know which pieces to buy for each part of my project.
Can anyone help me or point me in the direction of some good resources for this? I want to make sure I can actually use the leather I buy so that I don't end up getting X square feet of leather and come to find that none of it is wide or long enough to cut out a certain piece that I need.
