Q: You can use any pattern you like and any fabric, but cravats are typically made with soft fabrics (as opposed to stiff ones) that are more comfortable to wear and easier to wrap and tie. You can even use two different fabrics if you’d like to make a reversible cravat. Popular fabric choices include:  Satin Soft cotton Muslin Silk For this project, you will need some pins, a sewing machine, thread, scissors, a steam iron and ironing board, a measuring tape, a flat work area (such as a table), pattern paper and a pencil, a pattern pencil or chalk, and two strips of fabric that are at least 9 inches (23 cm) wide and about 2.2 yards (2 meters) long.  To make a cravat that only wraps once around your neck, the fabric can be only 1.6 yards (1.5 meters). If you don’t have access to a sewing machine, you can hand stitch the cravat, meaning you’ll need a sewing needle instead. Whatever that measurement is, subtract one-half inch (1.3 cm), and divide that in half. Write this measurement down, as you will need it in the next step to create your pattern. To make a generic or one-size cravat, use eight or nine inches as your measurement. Draw a rectangle that’s 2.5 inches (6.3 cm) wide and the correct length based on the neck measurement from the previous step.  Now, connect that rectangle to an elongated hexagon that’s 7 inches (17.8 cm) wide,   and between 21 and 31 inches (53 to 78.8 cm) long, depending on how long you want your cravat to be. Make sure the center of the original rectangle connects with the lengthwise center of the hexagon. When you are finished, cut out the pattern.
A: Choose a fabric. Gather your supplies. Measure your neck. Draw the pattern.

Q: The fasting plasma blood test is used to measure blood sugar levels to diagnose diabetes or pre-diabetes. A fasting plasma glucose test is normally performed in the morning, after the patient has gone approximately 12 hours without eating or drinking. Fasting is required because:  A person without diabetes produces insulin in response to increased glucose levels. After an overnight fast, the blood sugar levels would be low. A person with diabetes won’t produce insulin, leaving their glucose levels still high after an overnight fast. If you have fasted overnight, go to the testing center in the morning.  Remember to bring the form your doctor gave you that details what test should be conducted. If the laboratory takes appointments, you may want to make one to reduce the time you need to wait in line. Also, check your insurance and use a laboratory that is the primary provider for your health insurance. In order to measure the fasting plasma glucose level, you need to give a blood sample. During the blood sample:  A needle will be inserted into a vein in your arm. Blood is drawn into a test tube. Once the test is done, you can go home and the blood sample is sent to a laboratory for testing. Your test is considered normal (non-diabetic) if your glucose level is below 100 mg/dl.  A test result of 100–125 mg/dl is considered to be in the prediabetic stage and you are at a higher risk of developing diabetes. A test result of 126 mg/dl or higher is considered diabetic. If your results are positive for diabetes, your doctor will initiate a treatment plan for you to begin. You should be aware that the effectiveness of this test may be limited, including:  Falsely low plasma glucose levels may result if blood is drawn in the afternoon instead of in the morning or if too much time passes between when the blood is drawn and when the lab processes the blood sample. Results can also be affected by medical conditions, smoking, and exercise.
A: Fast between eight and 14 hours. Go to the laboratory for the test. Prepare for a venipuncture. Understand the results of fasting plasma glucose test. Know the limitations of fasting plasma glucose test.

Q: Take care not to dig a snow cave under the path of a potential avalanche or rockfall. Slopes with the wind blowing against them could be dangerous if you are staying overnight, as blowing snow could clog the entrance tunnel and block access to the outside air. If you can find a snowdrift at least five feet (1.5m) deep, a lot of your work will be done for you. Look for areas where the wind has blown the snow against a slope. Keep in mind you'll also need an area large enough to house however many people you have. A ten foot (3 m) diameter cave is comfortable for two or three people. Light, powdery snow may be difficult to work with, and is more likely to collapse. Fortunately, snow tends to harden once disturbed, so if you have the time to pile it up and wait for it to harden, you will likely still be able to form it into a snow cave. If you are in an emergency situation, one alternative is to dig a trench in the snow and use a tarp to cover it. Prop the tarp up with ski poles or branches stuck in the snow. This is easier and faster to dig, but will not provide the same warmth as a snow cave, and could become buried in a snowstorm. Warm, waterproof clothing is essential if you are out in the wilderness. Consider removing one or two dry under-layers of clothing before you begin working so you have something to change into if your clothing gets wet while digging. As for equipment, a compact snow shovel or two will make the snow cave's construction much easier. A non-smoke-producing light source is useful for overnight stays, but a candle or other small flame source can be used if you remember to create a ventilation hole.  Ventilation holes are described further on in this article. Having at least two people build a cave together is highly recommended. Keep one person outside of the cave with a spare shovel at all times. This way, if the cave collapses during the digging, the person on the outside can shovel away the snow to rescue the person trapped inside.
A: Avoid areas of rockfall or windy slopes. Find an area with deep snow. Test the consistency of the snow. If conditions aren't right, consider a trench instead. Check that you have the clothing and equipment you need. Find a friend to help.

Q: Start with a scenario that is funny and entertaining. Think about a funny situation in your own life. Often, a funny scenario will have a minor conflict, interesting characters, and a punchline, or major funny moment. Read news stories and talk to friends to find a humorous scenario For example, you may come up with a funny scenario based on your parent’s divorce and then remarriage several years later. Or you may fictionalize a relationship gone bad in your own life and make it funny. Another way you can come up with an idea for a comedy is to build a character that is funny and witty. Use people in your life that you find funny as models for the character. Take an existing fictional character and put a humorous spin on them. The character can then be the protagonist in the comedy and add humor to every scene. For example, you may create a character based on your mother, using humorous things she has said to you in the past as the character’s dialogue. Or you may take a serious historical person like Virginia Woolf and add humorous details like a funny voice to create a character. Think about ideas in comedy you have seen or read before. Then, try to put your own spin on these ideas. Turn a familiar idea into an original one using your creativity. For example, you may take the familiar idea of an awkward first dinner with the parents and have the couple dress in matching outfits to make it a bit silly. Immerse yourself in the world of comedy by reading lots of good examples of the genre, from novels to plays to short stories. You can also flip through comedy screenplays for ideas and inspiration. Some good examples include:   The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare  The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde  Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris  Bossypants by Tina Fey
A:
Come up with a funny scenario. Create a humorous character. Put an original spin on a familiar idea. Read good examples of the genre.