It’s time to make Xmas gifts. Okay, long past time, but life’s been wonky for a while. I just recently got started on gifts for my best bud’s kids. For his daughter (the one who got the owl coat), I decided to make doll clothes. I’ve whipped up a couple of things, but don’t love them enough to post. I need to use some different fabric, better suited for tiny dresses. Plus I need some corduroy for those little overalls. She just recently was gifted one of the American Girl dolls and -shrug- I figured she could use some more clothes for it. Besides they are quick projects, something that is important at the last minute and with arms that hurt so much.
For his 13yo son, though, I was stumped. I told my daughter I was trying to think of something that I could make for him that would relate to one of video game obsessions. I figured there had to be something with Minecraft that I could make; I just couldn’t think of anything.
She’s a smart one, that girl, and without a moment of hesitation suggested a Creeper stuffie. Of course, I was clueless as to what exactly a Creeper is, but Google’s here to save my brain from having to know all this. Phew.
Last night I got started, jotting down sizes and taking some inspiration from this tutorial. I wanted to add some quilting to make it look more like blocks and used a batik from Mary Fisher’s new collection.
I cut out 4 1/2-inch squares of the green fabric, 4 1/4-inch squares of fusible batting. Using scrap black and Wonder Under, I made the little face. The eyes are 3/4-inch squares and the mouth is a 1 1/2-inch square with snips in it. I was supposed to applique them on at this point, but I forgot and had reached the stuffing point before I realized my mistake and had to hand-stitch them in place.
Ironed all the pieces together:
Then set to quilting them. I had to make it work around the face, so the stitching lines are about 3/4-inch apart. I just chain stitched them, moving my handy star magnet with each new quilting line. [The blue tape marks 1/2-inch, the Izzy sticker under it is at 5/8-inch and star magnet moves wherever I want it to–there is logic, I swear!]
Each block got 8 quilting lines and I didn’t back them at all. 
The I stitched them together (I’ll show that part better when I do the body), snipped it, turned, stuffed it and -bam- it’s a Creeper head! It’s all Christmas-y with the red ball garland. 🙂
I wish these ladies had been around about 17 years ago when my son was young and I could sew for him. Okay, well, I still do sew for him sometimes, but not the cute little clothes that they have in 
