I was asked to teach an apron making class for Homemaking. So- I whipped up this little goodie with a little inspiration from a gift Erica gave me. It looks more complicated than it is... 85% of it is ironing. I made 3 in an afternoon for gifts this Christmas.
What you will need:
3 coordinating fabrics, plus a plain fabric for the back panel (I used super cheap broadcloth)
Iron
Fabric A: (back panel) 15.5" X 25.5" =buy 1/2 yard
Fabric B: (bottom ruffle & ties) 8.5" X 42" and (2) 4.5" X 42" =buy 1/2 yard
Fabric C: (middle ruffle) 8.5" X 42" =buy 1/4 yard
Fabric D: (top ruffle) 8.5" X 42" =buy 1/4 yard
1. Cut your fabric according to the above measurements.
2. On
Fabric A make a 1/4" hem by folding under 1/4" of the fabric, ironing, and then folding over and ironing again. This should enclose raw edges. Stitch. Repeat for long edge and 2 side edges of
Fabric A.
3. On large cut of Fabric B make 1/4" hem (using same method as above) on long edge and 2 side edges of Fabric B. Stitch. Repeat with Fabrics C and D.
4. On wrong side of
Fabric A measure 2" from bottom hem and draw a line (I used pen). Repeat at 8" and again at 14"
5. On large (now hemmed) cut of
Fabric B using large (basting) stitch, sew along unhemmed edge at 1/4" and again at 1/8".
Gently pull the 2 bobbin (back) threads at the same time creating gathers.
Adjust gathers so they are distributed evenly and
Fabric B fits along bottom line of
Fabric A. Pin so that raw gathered edge rests against the pen line. Stitch ruffle into place.
Repeat step 5 for Fabrics
C and
D working your way up the apron.
6. Cut one of the remaining strips of
Fabric B in half. (You should now have one long strip and two shorter strips of
Fabric B for the waistband.) With right sides together sew the two shorter strips to each end of the long strip. (You should now have one loooong strip pieced together, the longest piece in the center).
Open seams and iron.
7. Fold 1/4" of waistband strip
Fabric B (just once) and iron.
Repeat on bottom edge and both ends. 
Fold top of entire waistband strip over (in half) and iron.
9. Lay out waistband piece centering ruffled piece.
Open waistband and lay ruffled piece "inside" waistband keeping ruffled piece centered and laying flat.
"Close" waistband and pin into place.
10. Starting with pinned portion stitch ruffles to waistband close to ironed edge, making sure to sew through all layers and catching the waistband on the other side.
11. Stitch closed remaining lengths of waistband finishing ends.
12. Iron waistband, clip any straggler threads and YOU'RE DONE!
It was a hit on Christmas morning, and our Mom loved it! It was fun to see what each sister came up with for her squares. It would be fun to make one where everyone uses the same pattern, but different material. 
I Just covered the headband in corduroy, folded the raw edges underneath and hot glued them there. Then I took another long skinny piece, folded it into a loopish thing and gathered the middle with a little hot glue. Glue a button right in the middle or wrap more fabric around it!
Pretty much just cut out 2-4 flower shapes, each getting smaller and stack them. I cut a 5-petal flower for the bottom layer and 4-petal flower for the top layers. I also glued down a little lace to go underneath the flowers.
Just cut long strips of fabric and twist them. Then wrap them into a circle, gluing as you go.
Just cut circles big to small. Then hold each circle pretty close to the flame of a candle, without letting it catch fire, until the edges start to curl up. Stack them, and glue them on!
This advent calendar is an attempt to help my family focus on Christ during the Christmas season. Each day, we turn over a number (starting at 24), and read the scripture that goes along with the picture on the back.
Looks a little sad, but once we get some more Christmas decorations up, it will be just lovely. 
A foam wreath from a craft store or dollar store, a bunch of felt rectangles (I used about 6, but it depends on the size of your wreath), good fabric scissors, and a hot glue gun
