Converted a Vera Bradley Mini Backpack (Mocha Rouge, 2011) into a Crossbody

I recently ordered a Vera Bradley Mini Backpack in Mocha Rouge (2011) off a resell site. I love the pattern and the shape of the bag but didn’t like how it felt when wearing it. So I did some modifications to turn it into a crossbody. It took quite a few tries to get the strap right based on how I wear crossbody style purses. Then I hand sewed the straps. I don’t have instructions on how to do it. That would depend on which side you want to wear it on, how long you want the strap to be, etc. Just showing it as an example of modifying a bag to make it work for me. Mocha Rouge coordinates very well with the new Ultralight Strawberry Ice pattern at the Factory Outlet Stores.

[@TheGlamPea27]

That mocha rouge is beautiful! It’s really cool how you turned it into a crossbody. Thanks for sharing!

[@diaphanouswaffle]

So crafty of you ! I'm not a backpack person, so it's neat to see that such a thing can be converted into a "Mega-Hipster" (in contrast to a Mini Hipster).
Enjoyed seeing your pics of UL Strawberry Ice in the Buzz group-I only have PT Strawberry Ice, but am (fingers crossed) hoping to get to VB Factory Outlet next month (making the trip there will be my bf's birthday gift to me) and see the new goodies in person, incl. that fabrication.

[@jamieo1592]

I wish you'd shown how you got the bottom strap thingys unhooked. I'm not sure how to without cutting and I don't want to do that. It's leather and hard to cut, and even harder to sew on. 😪

[@vintageverabradley]

I used a seam ripper to remove the stitching but I wouldn’t attempt to do this with a leather bag. You could consider taking it to someone who repairs leather items to see if they could alter it for you.