INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Using a Worsted Weight yarn and an H hook, make a foundation chain. While you're working, stop every few stitches and check to make sure your foundation chain isn't twisted. Smooth it out as necessary, always leaving the row of "V"s facing up. To make a 36" x 36" blanket, chain 150 To make a 36" x 54" blanket, chain 150 To make a 40" x 60" blanket, chain 175 The exact number of rows will depend on how tightly you crochet, but here are some guidelines: For a 36" x 36" blanket, make 48 rows For a 36" x 54" blanket, make 72 rows For a 40" x 60" blanket, 80 rows It's a good idea to stop and check your work every so often. Count to make sure you are making the same number of stitches in each row. Check for mistakes. Measure your work with a measuring tape to see how close you are getting to your goal. If you notice a mistake, here's what you can do: Slip your hook out of the yarn loop and pull gently on the end of the yarn. Your work should start to unravel. Keep gently unraveling the yarn until you get to the point of your mistake. Unravel back to one stitch prior to your mistake. Insert your hook into the loop for that stitch, and begin crocheting from that point. When your blanket is as long as you want it to be, work all the way to the end of your last row. Then, you can add a border, end off your yarn, and weave in the ends. To make a simple border, flip your fabric over so the right side is facing you, then turn your the fabric 90. Ch 1 and insert your hook into the corner of your fabric. Make 3 sc into the corner. Sc all along the edge of your fabric until you reach the next corner, make 3 sc in the corner and continue around in this fashion until you reach your starting point. You can add another row of border in the same manner if you wish. To end off, ch 1 and make a big loop with the yarn. Slip the hook out of the loop and cut your yarn, leaving a long tail. Pull the end of the yarn through the loop and tighten to make a knot. To weave in the ends of the yarn, hold your fabric with the back side facing you. Thread the end of the yarn through a tapestry needle. Insert the needle through the bottom of several stitches (about two inches). Skip the last half of the last stitch, then weave the needle back through the same stitches for about an inch. Pull the yarn through, and clip the end of the yarn close to the fabric.

SUMMARY: Begin your blanket with a foundation chain. Continue crocheting until you have made the desired number of rows. Check your work as you go. Finish the blanket.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: When expressing yourself to your partner, avoid "you" statements, as in "You never listen to me." Instead, focus the conversation on your feelings, thoughts, and ideas. Use "I" statements, as in, "I wish we could find a way to talk more honestly with each other." Communicating with "I" instead of "you" will reduce likelihood of conflict and increase the good, loving feelings you and your partner have for one another. Everyone is busy. Finding time to communicate with your partner in a healthy, productive way can be difficult, even if you do sincerely love each other. To communicate in a more loving way, ensure that you make time for one another either at the start or end of each day (or any time in between). Sustained, structured time to simply sit down with your partner and talk about whatever you have on your minds can bring you closer together and help you become a more loving couple. Don't talk about anything difficult when either of you are tired. Being tired means you'll feel more stressed and impatient during the conversation. Don't look at your phone, computer, TV, or tablet. Instead, sit with them and stay focused on them and the conversation at hand. You could do this over dinner, in the living room, during a walk, or in some other venue. Wherever you choose to spend time talking to your partner, ensure you focus on them. When you and your partner are arguing, sometimes both of you inadvertently escalate the argument to the point where it becomes difficult to disengage. Both of you become more and more angry, and feel the need to win. This is an unhealthy communication pattern. Becoming conscious of it and working to change it will help you become more loving. For instance, next time you and your partner are arguing, just say, "Look, I'm sorry. Let's not argue any more." Walking away makes you the bigger person. Don't look at it as giving up. Letting things go takes strength and builds character. It says that you love the person you're fighting with more than you love being right and winning. Some battles are worth fighting. Don't compromise on your principles or let your people walk all over you. Choose wisely when you decide to fight to the end.

SUMMARY: Avoid accusatory language. Make time to talk to your partner. Focus on your partner during conversations. Resist the urge to win every fight.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Write the note on a piece of paper small enough to fit inside the cap of a pen. Roll the paper and place it inside of the pen. Pass it to the receiver. After that, just wait for them to pass the pen back! They can replace your note with another note and pass it back. Just remember to watch the teacher! Take tiny post-it notes and stick them inside the textbook. Write different notes to direct the receiver like, turn to page 3, turn to page 66, until they find the note. It will look like you or the receiver is studying instead of reading the note.

SUMMARY:
Ahead of time, get a friend to ask you to borrow a pen. Put your note in a certain page in a textbook.