Summarize the following:
Lay your fabric flat (or folded in half, if the pattern directs you to do so) and place your pattern over the top. Follow your traced lines and the guide to cut out your fabric in the matching shapes. If you are using a dress for the pattern use your traced outline of half the dress, drawn after being folded in half and placed along the folded edge. Cut along this line, and unfold the fabric to expose a complete front of your dress.  Add ½ inch of extra fabric around the edges of the dress for seam allowances. Most patterns already have this included in their measurements, but you will need to keep this in mind if you are tracing a dress for your pattern. If you want to add sleeves to your dress, these will need to be cut as separate pieces from the body of the dress. Cut your dress fabric in a tank-style top and then sew your sleeves on later. Be sure to cut the fabric for the back of this dress as well at this point, using the same method as you did to cut the front. Follow the sewing directions on your pattern. Typically the sides of the dress will be sewn first. Turn your fabric inside-out and fold ¼ of an inch over on either side, using an iron to flatten it out. Then, use a zigzag stitch to sew the front and back together, and a top stitch to attach your newly formed seam to the body of the dress. The top stitch will help the fabric to lay flat along the seam and add a more professional look to your dress.  Follow any specific directions on your pattern for sewing additional sections of your dress. If your pattern directs you to sew something other than the sides first, do so. For a simple neckline, fold over ¼ inch of fabric along the edge and iron it flat. Use a straight stitch along the collar to sew the edges in place and keep them from fraying. You can adjust how deep the neckline plunges by measuring the distance from your waist to the desired area on your bust, and adjusting your fabric accordingly. On the bottom of the dress, fold over ¼ of an inch of fabric and iron it down flat. If you have one available, use a serger to secure the ends and keep them from unraveling. Then, use a straight stitch to attach the folded edge to the bottom of the dress, holding it in place. So you won't make a mistake. If you want, add a zipper to the side or back of your dress to allow for easier opening/closure. You can also choose to add a lace overlay, ruffles, trim, or beading to your dress for an added touch. It’s your dress, and your opportunity to show your style! Do so as you please.

summary: Cut your fabric. Begin sewing. Sew the neckline. Add the hem. Finish off your dress.


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You can purchase stationary fans or use ceiling fans in your house. Fans will push around the air in a room and keep it cool. Ceiling fans are often the most effective way to cool down a room, while stationary and tower fans are usually cheaper to purchase. Determine how large you want the fan to be and how it blends in with your existing decor.  If you don't have a lot of space, you could purchase a smaller desk fan. If you need to cool multiple people, you should consider purchasing an oscillating fan. Stationary fans can come in the form of box fans, table fans, and tower fans. You can purchase a stationary fan at most department stores or online. If you place ice cubes or an ice pack in front of a fan, it will create a cool breeze that can significantly cool down a room. This is a great alternative if you don’t have air conditioning. You will have to replace the ice as it melts. Hold your hand in an open window to get the orientation of the wind. Determine which way the wind is naturally blowing and point the fan in the same direction. Position another fan in a different window facing outward, so that it pushes hot air out of the room. This will increase airflow and create a breeze that will cool down the room. Try to remove obstructions in the path of the two windows to improve the airflow. Whether it’s a window unit, central air, or a stationary unit, air conditioning is the easiest way to keep a room cool. Look on the product detail sheet or the packaging of a stationary or window unit to make sure that it’s optimized for the size of the room you want to cool. Then, once you have air conditioning, turn down the thermostat to reduce the temperature of the room.  Air conditioning is the easiest but least energy efficient way to cool a room. Central air is the most effective type of air conditioning. Stationary or mobile units are the least energy efficient types of air conditioning units.

summary: Turn a fan on. Place ice cubes in front of a running fan. Create a cross-breeze with two fans. Use an air conditioning unit that’s strong enough to cool the room.


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Place the sand dollars in a container filled with fresh water. As the sand dollar sits, the water should start to get brown. When the water gets to be a murky brown, replace it with fresh water and submerge the sand dollars again. Keep swapping out the water and submerging the dollars in fresh water until it stops turning brown.  Fully cleaning the sand dollars could take anywhere from 1-3 hours. Sand dollars can be found in shallow water, in the sand on a beach, or under seaweed. Pour 1 part bleach and 3 parts cold water into a bucket or container to create your solution. This process will whiten off-white or brownish sand dollars. Wear a pair of rubber gloves and carefully place the sand dollars into the solution to bleach them. Do not soak the sand dollars in the bleach solution for too long or they can crumble. Run the sand dollars under cold water from your faucet to remove the bleach and water solution. Leave the sand dollars in a sunny place for 1-2 hours to dry them. Let the sand dollars completely dry before moving onto the next step. Pour the PVA, or white glue, into a container and add an equal amount of water. Mix the solution together with a wooden stick or a brush until the glue and water are mixed thoroughly. Applying this solution will harden the sand dollar and make it easier to paint on. Elmer’s Glue-All is a popular type of PVA glue. Dip a paintbrush into the glue and water solution. Apply the solution liberally over the top surface and underside of the sand dollars with large, broad strokes. Lay 2 chopsticks or toothpicks on a table so that they are parallel to each other. Then, lay the sand dollar over the sticks so that the chopsticks or toothpicks prop the sand dollar off the surface of the table. This will serve as a makeshift stand and will prevent the solution from coming off the bottom of the sand dollar.
summary: Submerge the sand dollars in fresh water to clean them. Soak the sand dollars in a bleach and water solution for 5-10 minutes. Rinse off the sand dollars and let them dry. Create a 1:1 mixture of water and PVA glue. Coat the sand dollars with the glue and water solution. Lay the sand dollars on 2 chopsticks and let them dry.