Hello quilt friends - so glad you're here today! Let's jump right into it with some new table decorations I've designed called Rain Chains.
This colorful and modern table runner and placemat set was created for the Falling for You blog hop, this month's event hosted by Joan of Moosestash Quilting.
This is the last day of the hop, with the full schedule available at Moosestash Quilting for playing catchup, though I encourage you to visit these fellow quilters sharing their Falling for You creations today.
Friday September 24
QuiltFabrication
Ms P Designs USA
Lianne Makes Stuff
Quilted Delights
MooseStashQuilting
As with most hops I participate in, I don't really start thinking about them until about 6 weeks before the actual dates, unless some idea really jumps out at me in regards to the theme.
For this hop, I knew it should be a fall theme, and with the colors and the small leaf print, I've got that covered. Design though, was a different story.
Not feeling a leaves or pumpkins idea, I turned to the Crafters Edge Tumbler dies for inspiration, ultimately selecting one die from among the 5 offered. I just love that there a 5 sizes to choose from in this set!
Then I thought about what I could design with that shape, and that's when the rain chain idea hit. If you don't know what a rain chain is, it's an chain of decorative cups to use in place of a downspout on your house.
Rain chains have been used in Japan for years, and are becoming increasingly popular here. There are several houses in my neighborhood that have them. For me, I just wish they'd bring the chance of rain to parched CA.
So, with the fabric choices, and the rain chain idea, I'm keeping with the Falling for You blog hop theme with tumbler blocks, and falling water. See how this was meant to be?
Okay! Back to the quilt! So I've got the colors and fabrics chosen, and the rain chain idea, now it was time to do some designing. Playing with different variations of the chain idea, I finally settled on opposing directions, as design-wise, it's very pleasing.
After I pieced the Rain Chains runner, I thought how great it would be to also have some placemats, cause really, with a runner this nice, it deserves a whole set. And who doesn't like something new to see and use in their house?
Another run to JoAnn for a bit more leafy background fabric was all that was needed to make 4 Rain Chains placemats - yeah! And while I was there, I picked up a yard of this pretty leaf print, just because. Who knew it would be the perfect binding!
In that picture, the quilting is also visible, which is an approximate 1/4" to 3/8" stipple in Glide Military Gold. The quilting in the tumblers was kept simple, just enough to hold them down and not detract from the strong, modern piecing design. I think those lines add to the movement though the chains - a win-win!
Now that you know the story behind the Rain Chains table runner and placemat set creation, there is a pattern available in my QuiltFabrication Etsy shop. Enter the code 'RAINCHAINS25' at checkout to receive 25 percent off. Coupon is valid through midnight, Sunday, September 26.
Happy Quilting!
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