Safe to say this is the EASIEST quilt I've ever completed. Highly recommend if you are new to quilting and looking for something high-impact and fun to start with. The hardest part was actually picking out the colored fabrics, but because I love a rainbow, that was the most fun part too.
I bought 1/3 yard of 36 different colors. This was not the most economical way to go about it, but I was very picky about my colors and so I couldn't just buy a bundle of rainbow fat quarters. I do, however, have enough fabric to make four rainbow quilts, so if you were going to make a bunch to give as gifts or something, this would be ideal. (I'm going to give away three of the stacks of fabric so three of you can make a similar quilt – details at the end of this post.)
I cut the fabric into squares that were 10×10 inches using a cutting mat, ruler and rotary trimmer. After a million triangle quilts, cutting squares (especially this large) was so easy and enjoyable.
I laid it all out to be sure I had the order right. I wanted to go red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple horizontally and then have it fade from darkest to lightest vertically. I sewed each rainbow together so I had six strips of six squares each and then ironed my creases open and pinned it together. Because there were so few corners to line up, this one actually came together pretty neatly.
I screwed up a bit and cut my backing fabric too small. I went with a white extra wide cotton backing but didn't quite give myself enough wiggle room and over the course of sewing all those lines, it shifted a bit which meant I had to lose some of the front to even it out (you'll notice that the darkest red square in particular is smaller than the others). This sort of thing always bothers me at the time, but I know from experience that months (or even days) from now when we're actually using the quilt, it's not the sort of thing I'll notice or worry about.
To give it a bit of dimension, I quilted tons of horizontal lines across the surface. The thread on the top is white and then I alternated the color in the bobbin so the thread on the backing was multi-colored in a rainbow. It's VERY subtle. Too subtle to be worth it, I'd say. In photos it looks particularly lame. In person you can kind of see, but you really have to look for the color change. If I did it again I would probably just use all one color or even just white.
The finished quilt is about 55×55 inches though it will shrink a bit when I wash it. I bound it in gray stripe but black and white stripe would have looked awesome too.
Overall – it's one of my top ten favorite projects. I'm taking Ellerie to the park tonight for a picnic to break it in.
And now! The giveaway! As mentioned, I have enough fabric for four quilt tops and I only made one. So I have THREE stacks of rainbow squares that are already cut to 10×10 inches. You'd need your own batting, binding and backing fabric but you'd be at least partway there if you won. Please leave a comment if you're interested. I'll draw three winners by the weekend and will ship anywhere.
GIVEAWAY CLOSED, drawing winners now and will announce Saturday AM.
enJOY it 
1,233 responses to “super simple rainbow quilt.”
How cool! I’ve been wanting a project for my mom to teach me how to sew 🙂
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I would love the fabric! I’m hoping to get a sewing machine for my birthday in a couple weeks, and a quilt has always been on my list. What an awesome first quilt this would be. 🙂
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Love the colors
Would be fun to try
Thanks for having the chance to win
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Love this so much!! Would be awesome to make my own. 🙂
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This is beautiful! I’ve always wanted to try quilting and this actually looks doable:). This would be the perfect sewing project to work on in our new house, deep in the heart of the snow belt… where the winter is going to be much longer, colder and snowier than what we are used to!
Thanks for sharing and good luck everyone!
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You’ve done it again! Such a fun, bright, and awesome project. I would love to make a rainbow quilt to take on picnics and snuggle my littles under ❤️ thank you for your inspiration and generosity! 🙂
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It looks wonderfull! I just finished my first quilt and would love to start a second one while the cozy winter season is coming 🙂
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Love the colors
Would be fun to try to make
Thanks for the chance to win
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That is so generous of you and your quilt looks awesome! Thanks 🙂
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So pretty! Pinning this for sure!
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Your quilt turned out beautifully, and I’d love to try one of my own!
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Beautiful! You are such an inspiration.Such great colors! I just started my first quilt, hope it turns out ok. Would love to give that rainbow quilt a try!
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I love all the colors and rainbow is my favorite! I would love to try my hands at this project! Love from Italy
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I love the colors and my granddaughter would LOVE a quilt like a rainbow. Hope I’m one of the lucky winners.
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I’d love to win!
I’ve done that same thing with the backing before. Kind of heart-breaking at the time, but you’re right. I never care once the quilt is off the machine and getting used.
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How wonderful! My niece and nephew would fight over this if I made it. 🙂
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I would love this opportunity as I’m having my first baby (a girl) in just 7 weeks! Thank you!
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I love it!! It looks so good! I had been keeping up with your progress on instagram. Looks great and so much fun to do!! your daughter will love this!!
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Very fun! Love all the colours!
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This is the kick in the pants I need to get quilting!
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This quilt is amazing! Love, love, love!
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This is so inspiring – love the colors and would love to make one for myself. Thanks.
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The last time I tried quilting I was 13 and I only finished 1/4 of it, but lately I had been thinking about trying again with a cleaner, simpler quilt. Seeing your beautiful rainbow one has really got me excited at the prospect! Please include me in the drawing – Thank you!!
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Thank you for the giveaway Elise! I fell in love with your quilt and would love to make one of my own.
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Super simple and super awesome!!! I love e it! My rainbow obsessed 4 year old just asked me to make one so hopefully I will win! 🙂
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I’ve never made a quilt before, but I go to the fabric shop and drool all the time! This would be a perfect starter project for me. Thanks for the chance!
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Love this project! After you posted the pictures yesterday I was hoping you’d give more info. Great job! Enjoy your picnic!
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This quilt is so fun!
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This is amazing!!! You chose such perfect colors and I love all the texture from the quilting lines. I would love to make one for my little girl.
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Thank you for the chance to win! I would be thrilled to receive a set of the beautiful fabric to make a quilt!
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I love this quilt! Using 10×10 inch squares in genius, and would work especially well for gifts 🙂
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I’d love to try to tackle this! Thanks for the chance to win, Elise!
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PICK ME, PICK ME!!
I love your blanket and would be super excited to make one JUST like it!
Thanks for the chance to win!
🙂
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Was super excited as only yesterday I was shopping for quilt fabrics here in Mexico and did not find anything that sweet . .therefore to be truthful a carbon copy of yours would be much appreciated . I am in my 3rd month of temporary residency (1st year) and having a hard time adjusting with a definite lack projects to keep me busy . Will buy a sewing machine on Saturday and then hopefully tackle something . I am from Canada but will try living here for a while
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I would love to try making this! I’m a quilting virgin, have always wanted to try it but was intimidated, I think this quilt would be a perfect starting point for me 🙂 thanks for the chance to win 🙂
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This would be an awesome first quilt! Nice work!
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I would love this giveaway! I’ve never made a quilt and this would be a fun first one 🙂
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I’ve already copied the quilt you made for Ellerie. Why not copy this one, too? Thanks for being an inspiration 😀
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Beautiful! What a generous give-away…
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Turned out great!!! I also loved the inspiration image!
Hope I win crosses fingers and toes
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Oh I LOVE it!! The colors. The way you stitched it..this seems manageable to me!! This would be perfect to try my first quilt…I think I would back it in a deep navy blue. My two year old would love it!! Thanks as always for the inspiration!! 🙂
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This is amazing! And just the thing to get me on the quilting chain. Thanks for the chance!
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I love the rainbow quilt! And this looks like the perfect beginner quilt project!
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Hi Elise,
I would love to win the fabric. I made two quilts already and I learned everything from your posts.
I made two of these http://eliseblaha.typepad.com/golden/2012/09/how-to-make-a-triangle-quilt.html using a chevron pattern. I would love to do a rainbow one using this fabric!!
Thank you for all the inspiration.
Bea
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Since I graduated, I’ve been waiting for the perfect quilt to jump out at me to try my hand at quilting and this for sure is it!! LOVE IT SO SO MUCH!
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Such an awesome quilt! I love the straight line quilting on the top, just adds to it. Would love to make one for a cousin who shares your loves of rainbows!! She has two girls and another on the way! 🙂
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I’d love to win to see what I can come up with that’s completely different than yours.
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That’s so generous of you! I’d LOVE to make this quilt, and with my older two headed to school next month, I’d have the time. Thanks for the opportunity!
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This quilt is awesome. Would love a chance to win. Now I am inspiried to finish a quilt….
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Ooooh I love this! I’d love to win!
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