September is National Sewing Month, and in this era of tighter budgets and heightened environmental awareness, the Sewing & Craft Alliance and the American Sewing Guild are encouraging sewers to "reuse, remake, restyle" their old favorites into something new.

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Among those touting the three Rs of National Sewing Month is designer Betz White, who creates unique items from second-hand materials. The author of Sewing Green: 25 Projects Made With Repurposed & Organic Materials, White offers these ideas for recycling items around your home.

• Sew a pair of comfortable pajamas pants cut out of a well-loved sheet.
• Make a laundry bag by adding a drawstring to the opening of a pillowcase.
• Create a shopping bag from an old tank top by sewing the hem shut.
• Make a scarf out of a shrunken wool sweater by cutting it into strips and sewing them together.—Kimberly Janeway | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Tell us how you've created something entirely new from something old by posting a comment below.