First Post! Pipe And Tobacco Roll Up Pouch?

[JohnBloch]

Hello! I've made several things out of leather, a holster, a gun belt, spur straps and cowboy cuffs, but I haven't ever made anything resembling a bag, so I figured I would ask a couple questions.

I'm making my brother a tobacco and pipe roll up pouch as a Christmas present, and I'm concerned about the actual pouch section. To give you a rough estaminet of what I'm going for, I've attached a photo below.

My question is, when I fold the flap over to make the pouch for the pipe, will it have enough space and or give to fit the pipe in it? I will be working with unlined 3-4oz veg tan, and I'm just concerned that when I stitch it up there won't be enough space. I figure the other option is to angle the cut so as to make it have a wider mouth when I stitch up the pouch, but I'm afraid that I won't like how it looks. What do you guys think?

Edited November 15, 2012 by JohnBloch

[immiketoo]

John, if the leather is veg tan, you may have to adjust tolerances for the pipe since the leather will not be as supple as chrome tan. However, I think it will look better and I would approach it like this, Since the pipe is the main feature, I'd build my pattern around the pipe, and I'd wet form the case around the pipe for a custom fit, then let the rest of the pouch fall into place based on that. I think there are lots of cool ways you could go about this.

If you are using another pouch as a pattern, I'd suggest mocking one up out of paper or thin cardboard first.

Hope this helps.

[JohnBloch]

Here's the deal, my brother has a slew of pipes, and I would prefer him to choose which pipe he would like to use in it, and it's all a surprise. While I agree that a wet formed pouch/case would be awesome, I don't think wet forming is really an option.

[JohnBloch]

I did however mock up a paper version last night, I'm just wondering if a piece of neats oiled veg tan will have a little more give. I feel like the answer to my problem is to just make the whole pouch wider, which will in turn allow for more give. I'll keep fiddling with it for a while, but I have so many things I want to make for people I need to just settle up and get cutting.

[dirtclod]

I've made a couple of pouches, but never one for the pipe to fit inside. What i would do is get one of his pipes or buy a cheap one to use for my pattern and i think i would put a gusset in the side to make the pipe fit better. If you don't use a gusset you pouch is going to have to big bigger/ wider longer for the pipe to fit right, i'm thinking. If you buy a cheap pipe you could give it to him as a joke gift then give him pouch.