INPUT ARTICLE: Article: You will need this gap to slide the elastic through. When sewing the hems, try to sew as close to the raw/cut edge as you can, so that you will have enough space for the elastic. When you are done, pull the sewing pins out. Be sure to tie the ends of the threads off into tight knots and to snip them off, as close to the fabric as you can. Try to use a stitch intended for sewing stretchy fabrics. It usually looks like a straight stitch, but is broken up by V-shapes.

SUMMARY: Sew the top and bottom hems, but leave a ½ inch (1.27 centimeters) wide gap on the top hem.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Even if you think the way you were let go was unfair or terrible, don’t badmouth your former employer or boss in an interview. This makes you look negative and often changes the way the interviewer sees you. If the interviewer asks you to elaborate about your boss or former company, you can say something like, "The company just wasn't a good fit for me, because it didn't present the types of challenges I most enjoy." Or you can say, "My boss is great at his job, but our personalities just didn't fit well." ” Don’t lie, but you don’t have to be obvious about it either. Instead, you can say things like “my company downsized” or “my position was eliminated.” If it’s apparent to the interviewer that you were fired for a more specific reason that downsizing, explain what happened in as few words as possible. For example, you can say something like “I learned that I should really research the companies I apply to, to make sure that their goals and mine match. For example, I noticed that your company’s commitment to social justice matches my own passion for it, which is exemplified by my work with the ACLU.” Interviewers will tend to have more respect for you if you take responsibility for being fired. This doesn’t necessarily mean accepting blame if you weren’t at fault, but it can mean acknowledging the position wasn’t a good fit or you didn’t get along with your bosses or coworkers. For example, you can say something like “You can see on my resume that being involuntarily let go from a position is not commonplace for me. The truth is that my boss and I did not get along well and the position wasn’t a good fit. I’ve learned a lot from the position, and my references will attest to my excellence as an employee and coworker.”

SUMMARY: Don’t talk about your previous boss or company. Avoid saying “fired. Be concise, then move on. Take responsibility.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Viscose is a fairly fragile fiber and also one that is very vulnerable to bleeding dye. Because of this, it's easy to damage viscose rugs or cause them to bleed by simply trying to clean them. If your viscose rug has sentimental value, it may be a better idea to have the rug professionally dry-cleaned than to risk irreversible damage or dye-bleeding by cleaning it yourself. The goal of cleaning a viscose rug is essentially to get the rug as clean as possible while keeping it as dry as possible. Thus, before using any liquid detergents, it's a wise idea to try to clean your rug with methods that don't require getting it wet before trying to clean it with methods that do. Take your rug outside and shake it firmly to remove any loose dirt or dust. You may also try beating the rug against a railing or pole for added power. Next, use a vacuum to remove any ground-in dirt or sediment. Run the vacuum head over the rug several times both with and against the grain, paying extra attention to any extra-dirty spots. If you can, use a head attachment that doesn't have mechanical brushes. Viscose is fairly fragile and the rough action of mechanical brushes can easily cause it to tear. If your rug is still dirty, you may need to carefully wash it. Place the rug on a mounting board or secure it to a table you don't mind getting dirty before cleaning. Washing viscose carpeting requires some scrubbing, so you won't want the carpet to slip around on the floor while you scrub it and you definitely don't want it to bleed dye into the floor or any nearby carpeting. Heat water to a lukewarm temperature and combine with a few drops of soap or carpet detergent to create a cleaning solution. Use a soft-bristled brush (like a window-washing brush) to scrub this solution into problem areas of the rug. Avoid hard-bristled brushes or mechanical brushes, as these can easily tear the fragile viscose fibers. Be conservative with your cleaning fluid - the less moisture you use, the lower the chance of dye bleeding. It's wise to test your cleaning solution on a small portion of the rug that won't be seen before cleaning the whole thing. This way, you'll know immediately whether your solution causes dye bleeding or other distress to the fabric before proceeding. Cellulose fibers (including viscose) turn yellow when wet. To help minimize this unsightly yellowing, lightly rinse the wet portions of the rug with a mixture of vinegar and water. The acetic acid in the vinegar helps prevent yellowing as the rug dries, though it may not eliminate yellowing entirely. To remove as much moisture as possible from your rug, vacuum a second time after you've finished using your liquid cleaners. Pay special attention to any wet areas. As directed above, you'll want to avoid using head attachments that have mechanical brushes to prevent damage to the rug. Viscose fibers can stiffen as they dry, creating clumped, splotchy sections on your rug. To help prevent this, you may want to mist the rug ever-so-delicately with a mixture of fabric softener and water using a spray bottle. This can prevent the fibers from stiffening and lessens or eliminates the dreaded "clumps". You may still find that you need to break up clumps after the rug dries. Do so gently, by hand. Allowing your rug to dry face-down lessens the yellowing effect that can occur as viscose dries. Place your viscose rug in a clean, dry place or hang it horizontally as it dries. However, note that this will make the underside of the rug yellow more than normal. As mentioned above, viscose is notorious for bleeding dye when wet. Thus, you'll want to keep your rug far away from any light-colored fabrics (especially expensive carpeting) while you're waiting for it to dry. Dye stains can be very tricky to remove from carpeting and the bleeding of dye from the rug itself is virtually irreversible.

SUMMARY:
Have the rug dry cleaned if it is very important to you. Shake your rug outside. Vacuum the rug. Ensure the rug won't move while you're scrubbing it. Use a soft brush to gently scrub with soap and water. Wash with vinegar to minimize yellowing. Vacuum again. Optionally, spritz the rug with dilute fabric softener. Dry face-down. Don't place the rug on or near any carpeting until it is completely dry.