Help with drawing methods

[Exellite]

I downloaded a pillow model the other day, not to use in a drawing but because I really liked the seems and creases created on it and I wanted to see how it was done. Attached is the displacement map that was used and I really want to know how I would go about creating something like that from scratch in photoshop, I have tried using gradients and masking with the pen tool, I've also tried using the air brush tool with a really diffused edge pen type, but I just can't seem to get it flowing like the image attached.

 

Any advice or tutorials knocking about that would help me? My soft furnishings really need that element of realism and I feel this is the best way forward for me.

 

Thanks in advance

Mark

[dave013]

Try using the smudge tool to get the flowing strokes after using a brush to create the white outline.