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Friday, September 24, 2021

Rain Chains

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.

fall colored tumbler blocks on a leaf background fabric

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. 

water pouring through a rain chain


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.

fall colored tumbler blocks on a leaf fabric


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?

fall color tumblers on leaf fabric


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!

closeup of quilting and binding fabric


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!

table runner and placemats for fall


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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26 comments:

  1. Rain chains are useful and a cool design and much better than gutters that get clogged way to easily. We have no gutters and used to have just a chain (no cups), but I think we may need to get a few rain chains just because of the design of them. We don't get much rain here. Great way to use for your Tumbler Die Cut.

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  2. I have seen so many fun projects using the tumbler die. Your table runner and placemats are one of those wonderful examples! Thanks for sharing!

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  3. Perfect. (I'm praying for rain in CA, too.) Perhaps this project will encourage a gentle sweet all-day sort of rain. You nailed the design for this falling for you. The small leaf background is so sweet and I loved the binding.

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  4. You are so clever! Your rain chain projects are really lovely.

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  5. I had never heard of rain chains before. Your interpretation of this blog hop is so fun 😊

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  6. This is a great design idea! Love your runner and place mats. My neighbor just installed a rain chain, but I haven't seen it yet. We get plenty of rain in Houston though.

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  7. I love your rain chains Susan and that mix of modern and fall leaves speaks to me. We stayed in a VRBO in Lancaster PA one year with rain chains on the house. They were so cool! Wishing you the best for some rain in CA!

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  8. Susan, what a neat design! I like the colors and the background too. And I'm pleased to see another use for the tumbler dies. Thanks for sharing!

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  9. I'd never heard of a rain chain, but now I want one...very cool idea. Not quite as cool as your version in fabric, though. You come up with such amazing ways to use those dies! Thanks for sharing!

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  10. Inspiration comes from everywhere. Love your Rain Chain runner and placemats. Great way to use those dies. You are such an inspiration.

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  11. Love your Rain Chain runner and placemats. Love that backing fabric too. Thanks so much for sharing!

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  12. neat I have heard of them but only seen one in use

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  13. I've never seen a rain chain before. Cool pattern.

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  14. Susan I just love this pattern, never heard of a rain chain before love learning this tid bit. I just downloaded the pattern and hope to get to it in the next couple of weeks.

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  15. Love the rain chain table runner! Love the colours! Beautiful!

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  16. What an awesome idea love your rainchains table runner and placemats. The pic of the rain chains which are square is very interesting. I have never seen any like that before.

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  17. Never know what I will learn as I blog hop. Thanks for explaining rain chains. I can imagine using your pattern as a border, to create a baby's lovey and so much more.

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  18. Oh my gosh, I love your rain chains runner and mats. How wonderful and thank you for sharing the picture of your rain chains in action. I've never seen them before.

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  19. Fun and festive table coverings for the Hop, Susan!! That's a different variety of rain chains than I've seen before. Genius inspiration source!

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  20. What a fun project. Thanks for sharing.

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  21. Cute use of tumblers. Love the whole set.

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  22. Cool set!! and I love the inspiration!! They look so great!

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  23. Your rain chains were a prefect inspiration for a hop project. The photo of the rain chains at work is pretty, but your runner and playmates are beautiful. Great fabrics.

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  24. I love rain chains but had forgotten all about them. To echo them in a pattern is genius! Such pretty colors, and the background and backing/binding fabrics are beautiful.
    Thanks for linking up to To Do Tuesday!

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Thank you so much for commenting...you just made my day!