Easy DIY transforming purse-backpack

If you are anything like me, you're tired of buying stuff and using it for a few months at which point it falls apart and you need to buy a new one. That's the story with me and backpacks. They are all made out of this really easy to tear material which only lasts PART of a semester at best, before I need a new one. I've come to realize purses are made to carry small stuff but are limited as far as long journeys, whereas backpacks are made for long distances, but tear apart easy, so I thought why not combine the two?

I take this backpack / purse hiking with me all the time and its lasted much longer than any of my backpacks, so I thought I'd show you how to make one!

It's very simple, and took me less than 20 minutes to make. If you've got an old bag lying around, it might be worth the small experiment to see if it could work as your new backpack. Check out how it's done!

Remove these ads by Signing Up

Step 1: Materials

What we'll be needing:

A satchel / purse
A bit of extra fabric (Old belt? Old backpack strap? Piece of left over jean?)
A needle and thread
A pair of scissors
Two Fold-Back clips (smaller is better)
A candle (optional)

audioadvisory38 says: Dec 15, 2012. 9:03 PM

Nice Hack. I do something similar for quick rides with my "side satchel." Materials: 1 drawstring satchel or similar and say five' five" rope. Step 1 : Tie both ends of the rope to the Closed End of your satchel. Step 2 : Stretch out the rope to loop rope around the Open End. Step 3 : Double the rope lines up and carry as a single strap "side satchel" or split the rope as shoulder straps and haul as a "back satchel." Not close in custom beauty though.