July 26, 2013 10:47 AM PDT
Chaz has it right. Leather can be stretched (look at the knees of your chaps after a ride) but only some. It is, after all, the hide of an animal.Once it is tanned, the ability to stretch is limited by the cellular structure.
The best way to increase the size of a leather jacket is to have an insert or two sewn in by a professional. A split is harder to fix. So, either retire it... or have it 'expanded' to fit. Also, the leather may be too old to subject it to any real expansion.
Hope this helps & let us know what happens...
Edge