snakewood...thanks for the tip about wrapping with string. I wouldn't have thought of that, and it made it work,so far. Did have a couple of bad wrinkles so I resoaked it, then put it on and only wrapped with twine up to the thinnest part of the handle. Then I just folded the rest of the leather back down,and let it dry a day.
After that I took it back off, resoaked the top half, and wrapped from the narrow part, all the way up to the shelf. After drying a day it seems to have come out pretty good.
Now I need to cut the fronts. Should I cut them a liitle short, so the lacing will pull it together? or just overlap 'em, and make one cut through both sides so that it butts up even?
AND...any tips on the lacing? Appreciate the help. Here's what I've got so far...sorry 'bout the blurry pic.