INPUT ARTICLE: Article: You will need to trim the excess batting and backing fabric from your quilted project. Use a rotary cutter and your ruler to have a neat, square edge. Then start cutting your strips for the binding itself. Trim the selvage off the strips. You'll need four that are the length of your edges, but smaller in width than your border. Around 2-3" (5-7.5 cm) is an appropriate width, depending on the size of your quilt. This may seem confusing or counter-intuitive, but it's the easiest way to get going. Press the seams open and fold in half lengthwise. Press once more -- you want a firm crease on the edge of your quilt. Starting towards the center of one side (you don’t want you ends to join near a corner –- makes it a lot trickier), pin the raw edges of your pressed strip to the raw edges of the BACK side of the quilt.  When you get to the corner you are going to have to miter each one. To do this:  Fold the strip up at a 45 degree angle when you reach the corner of the quilt. Put a pin in at a 45 degree angle to hold that corner in place. Fold the strip down to match the raw edges with the next side of the quilt.  The fold should line up with the edge of the last side you were pinning to. You will have a little triangle that sticks up – place another pin at a 45 degree angle on the other side of the little triangle flap.   When the strip gets back around to the beginning, fold the ends down so that the strips meet-up. Press with your iron to make a crease at both folds.  Trim strips to about ¼” (.6 cm) away from the fold. Pin together and sew seam right on the press marks of both strips. Press the seams open. You're almost there! Sew the binding to the back of the quilt with a ¼” seam allowance. (If you have a walking-foot feature on your machine, use it here.)  When you get to the corner, stop your seam about ¼” away from the end of that side. Lift the presser foot and rotate the quilt in the new direction, putting the triangle flap the other direction start sewing from the beginning of that side.  When all four sides are sewn to the back of the quilt, fold the folded edge of the binding to the front of the quilt and pin in place. Mitered corners should fall into place. It’s like magic.  Pin abundantly to keep the binding in place in preparation for machine sewing. Using either a matching thread or an invisible thread (good if you don’t want your stitching showing as much on the back of the quilt), carefully stitch the binding down working from the front of the quilt. Carefully pivot the needle when you get to the corners and continue sewing all the way around the quilt. You may want to back-stitch at the start and finish.

SUMMARY: Begin trimming and cutting. Sew the strips together to create one long strip. Pin your binding. Sew to your quilt.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: There are many great benefits to meditation, from improved memory to reduced anxiety. Spending time thinking about why you would like to meditate and what you would like to gain from meditation will help keep you focused and determined. No reason is too small or insignificant to start meditating. Whatever your reason or intention is, stick to it and stay committed. Meditation, especially for those who are beginners or have not meditated for some time, can be difficult. Many of the effects of meditation only come after significant time and work is spent meditating. The more frequently and consistently you can meditate the better and more developed your results will be. Try to schedule at least some time each day to sit and meditate, even if it is only for two minutes.  A consistent schedule does not mean a demanding schedule. In other words, don’t get caught up in how you are meditating, just do!  Try committing to meditating first thing in the morning, every morning, no matter how long you can meditate for. It can be difficult, and occasionally frustrating, to start meditating. It takes time to relax and to clear your mind. Instead of giving yourself difficult tasks up front, like sitting for 30 minutes straight, try starting small to ease into your practice. After all, it is called a practice for a reason, and it takes time to improve!  Start by sitting for only a few minutes, like 2 or 3, when you first meditate. Build up minute by minute as you feel you are able. If you increase your time too quickly, don’t worry! Just reduce your meditation by a few minutes the next time you sit. Remember, meditation, even though it can be hard work, is meant to be relaxing! Don’t insist and don’t resist!

SUMMARY: Think about what you would like to receive from meditation. Make a consistent schedule. Start small.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: A shoe stretcher is a device that’s made to wedge down into a shoe. Typically, they have a knob or a lever that you turn to gradually widen and lengthen the shoe stretcher. Over time, this will help relax and widen the shoe, making them up to a half-size larger.  You can buy a shoe stretcher at most high-end shoe stores. Try this in conjunction with a shoe-stretching spray for the best results. Dampen the shoes with the spray, then insert the shoe stretcher. Repeat this as needed until your shoes reach the size you need. Take a sock and roll it up tightly from the toes all the way to the top, then stick it down into the toe box of the shoe. Continue doing this until you’ve filled both shoes completely with as many socks as you can fit. Then, store the shoes overnight or until you’re ready to wear them again.  While this method might not work as quickly as using heat, alcohol, or ice, it will gently stretch your shoes over time, making it an ideal option for leather, vintage, or otherwise delicate shoes. This may not work as well for shoes with a stiff upper, like dress shoes. Also, shoes that are made from a flexible material, like mesh, might require direct heat or a method that saturates the shoe in order to stretch out the fibers. Dampen a few sheets of newspaper, then ball them up and stuff them into the toe box of the shoe. Continue adding balls of wet newspaper until the shoe is full. As the paper dries, it will expand and harden, stretching out the shoe.  Because this technique will form the shoe as it stretches, be sure to arrange the paper so it preserves the shape of your shoe. Do not saturate the paper, or it could damage the inside of your shoe. Also, avoid using this technique on leather shoes. Fill a plastic bag with oatmeal, rice, or any other grain that will swell up when it gets wet. Add just enough water to cover the grains, then seal the bag and place it into the shoe, working it down into the toe box. Leave the bag in place overnight, then remove it and try your shoes on! As the oats expand, the pressure will help stretch the material of the shoe.

SUMMARY:
Use a shoe stretcher to gradually widen leather shoes. Roll up socks and stuff them into the toes of the shoes for a gentle stretch. Place wet newspaper into the shoes for more stretching power. Stretch the shoe with wet oats, grains, or rice for an old-fashioned approach.