Problem: Article: Making small talk with people don't know very well is one of the hardest parts of new friendships. To get to talking, simply make a comment on what's around the both of you or the occasion. Talk about your teacher's droning voice, or how you can't believe that cute person in homeroom is wearing that outfit. It doesn't have to be much – the conversation will get better and better from there. Even "Man, I love this song!" can get the ice breaking. When the two of you start singing at the top of your lungs, it's an immediate bonding moment. To get the ball rolling even further, start asking the person or people you're talking to the open-ended question that they can't just answer with a "yes" or "no," as one-word answers will stop any conversation in its tracks. What do they think of the big event coming up? Who do they know that's coming? Ask people what their plans are for the weekend. If something seems appropriate for you to join, you can express interest in the activity and see if they extend an invitation. If not, you must take a call about whether you should put yourself on the line and explicitly ask to come. Be careful about always tagging along -- it can annoy some people. When's the last time someone looked you in the eye, smiled, and asked, 'How are you?' and actually meant it? A genuine listener is pretty hard to come by, especially these days when everyone's eyes are attached to their phones. When they're talking, give them your attention. They'll feel it and appreciate it. Being interested in another person is one of the best ways to show someone you like them and make them feel like they matter. Even if they're just complaining about their mom, support them. Help them laugh about it. Everyone needs a shoulder from time to time, and you could be that shoulder. In addition to getting people feeling good about themselves, compliments are a great ice breaker, too. "Hey, I love those shoes! Where did you get them?" is an easy way to start a conversation. It could be one of the highlights of their day. Who knows? Think about your friends. Which ones do you associate with positivity and which with negativity? It probably doesn't take you too long to come up with your answer. Here's a heads up: you want to be associated with positivity, and giving compliments is a way to do just that. You have a lot of friends now. Once you have them on your side, the main battle is going to be making time for them. If you have a set schedule, great. Monday is for your choir friends, Tuesday is for soccer, and so forth. Just make sure if you haven't seen a friend in a while to give them a call! This is the main downside to being friends with everyone – they all want a piece of your time. If it starts to burn you out, don't ignore it. Take some time to yourself and refuel. Your real friends will be patient and there when you're ready.
Summary: Remark on your surroundings or the occasion. Ask open-ended questions. Listen genuinely. Use compliments. Make time for them.

Problem: Article: You need two pieces of fabric large enough to cover the duvet, plus one inch extra on the length and width to allow for a ½-inch (1.27-centimeter) seam. You want to allow ½-inch (1.27-centimeter) extra for each seam you need to make to piece the duvet cover together. Allow slightly more than that if you want a looser fit for your duvet cover or if your duvet is extra thick. Look for stain- and pill-resistant materials that wash easily. You can plan on making one side all the same fabric, or you can plan on piecing it together like a quilt top from a variety of fabrics. How to sew duvet covers is entirely up to you, and it’s a project that can let you express your artistic talents.     Dry it in the dryer. This removes any sizing and helps set the color dyes. If the fabric is going to shrink, it does it in this first wash cycle.
Summary: Measure your duvet. Pick fabrics that are soft to the touch. Buy different fabric to piece together to fit your duvet. Allow extra fabric if you have patterns or stripes to match in the fabric. Remember to purchase fabric for two sides of the duvet cover. Take a shortcut if you wish by purchasing two contrasting flat sheets if they are large enough to cover the duvet. Purchase matching thread and a long zipper. Wash the fabric according to package directions.

Problem: Article: Spiderman has thick black borders around both eyes, so you'll need to draw these on. Using your sharpie or fabric paint, sketch out a 1/2" border around each eye, then fill it in completely. If you are feeling a bit more ambitious, cut out some black fabric from an old t-shirt in the correct shape, then hot-glue it on. Look in a comic book or online for a reference photo, then copy Spiderman's web patterns onto the mask. If you're uncomfortable free-handing the webs, try sketching them on with a pencil first, then erasing and adjusting till they're just right. Then, use your Sharpie or Fabric paint to draw over the penciled lines. Now that your mask has been hot-glued and accented, you'll need to let it dry. Read your bottle of fabric paint and the hot-glue instructions for specific times. The glue itself may dry in around a minute, but fabric paint may take up to 72 hours to dry, depending on the brand. Once your mask has dried, go ahead and try it on. Pair it with a homemade Spiderman costume, or wear it on its own. It'll be perfect for Halloween, Super Hero events, or costume parties.
Summary:
Draw the eye borders. Draw on webs. Let it dry. Try it on.