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.”
Even if I don’t win, I think I’ll come back to this post just to make me happy!
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What a beautiful quilt Elise! Thanks for the inspiration and the giveaway!
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Love this, what a gorgeous quilt! My youngest is 7 weeks so I’m all about quick and easy projects these days 🙂
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Beautiful quilt! I’d love to win the fabric. I’m not a sewer but my aunt is and she loves making handmade blankets and quilts for family and friends. Thanks!
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I have yet to make my first quilt. but have been wanting to for years. Here’s hoping! What a jump start this would provide.
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This quilt came out so good! I’d be estatic to win some fabric to make my own, and if not I may just have to make a trip to the fabric store.
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Love it!
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I have been pinteresting my but off trying to find the perfect picnic blanket to whip up and this would be so fun!! Bright and cheery, I love the layout. Would love to be able to make something like this for our family to enjoy. 🙂
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oohh i’d LOVE to win one of these stacks! i’m sewing away frantically for our 3rd babe coming in October, and almost done her quilt. would love to have a surprise (quick) rainbow quilt made for my boys as well! thank you for the giveaway, and great quilt!
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I’d love to make my first quilt with this! Thanks!
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This is gorgeous!!! I think this could be a fantastic first-quilt-project for me to ease into!! 🙂 Thank you for the opportunity!
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I would love to make this my first quilt! My late grandmother would be so proud…
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I would love your extra fabric! I enjoy sewing, but cutting stresses me out, so this is perfect. I have never made a quilt before, but it is on my list of things that need doing. Yours looks great!
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Would love to win- it’d be my first quilt project!
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So cute! And what a great project for a first-time quilter. 🙂
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This is so pretty!! You got it done so fast, YAY!! Beautiful job with all of it. I would love to win and make my own, THANK YOU for this chance and sharing with us!!
Enjoy the picnic with your sweet girl, I bet she loves it after that rainbow birthday party.
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Ooh! I’ve only ever quilted a coaster size quilt in high school, but I’d love to do another! We could use a picnic blanket around here❤️❤️
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Awesome quilt! Thanks for the chance to win!
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Oh my goodness I would love to win this fabric! Your quilt looks amazing!!
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Oh my goodness!!! Love love love that quilt! I just found that I’m expecting baby #5 (a complete shock!) and I’d love to have a rainbow quilt for this new little one!!! Please? Pretty please????
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How deluxe! I just finished my second quilt and am ready for number three!!
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Fall always has me itching to make a new quilt. This one looks beautiful!!
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I would love to make this quilt for my baby girl, she would love the colors!
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Looks so fun! I would love to make one.
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Love all the lines of quilting. Have a blast at the park. Thanks for a chance to win the rainbow fabric squares!
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This would be so much fun to put together! I enjoy your blog so much and always look forward to seeing what you post each day. (And Instagram is a great way to enjoy your creativity in between posts!)
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When I saw your first post on instagram about this project, my mind exploded! LOVE LOVE LOVE this quilt and would be awesome if I could make a similar one!
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Such a great giveaway. I’d love to win so I could give the fabric to my sister. She’s been eager to do make another quilt, but has been a bit reluctant to take on a big project. I think this would be perfect for her.
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This is so fun, Elise! My daughter and I watched this quilt come together through Instagram and loved it! What a fun giveaway – and the squares are already cut. :o)!!! Thanks for the chance to win.
I also wanted to mention how nice your finished piece looks. I hate to bring up past “junk,” but I was wondering if you’ve kind of had a change of heart when it comes to matching up your seams. I noticed your pretty corners on the recent triangle quilt you made too. I know in the past that wasn’t important to you, but it seems like you’ve made a change somehow and I just wanted to say that I noticed and it looks awesome!!! xo
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such a lovely quilt – I would be so fun to win this fabric and be able to make my own
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I love this so so much! Bookmarking this as a fall or winter project for sure.
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I haven’t tried quilting in a long time but would be game to try again- thanks for the chance to win!
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This came out amazing! I am in awe of your ability to go from idea to finished project in record time. I’m trying to adopt your progress > perfection mindset and just start something already : D Thanks for your generosity in sharing the fabric!
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Looks great, Elise! What a fun way to try out sewing my first quilt!
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Awesome quilt. I’ve just finished my first quilt today and would love to try making a rainbow one next. I live in the UK so hoping this giveaway can be shipped my way ☺️
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Oh man that is awesome! thanks for the chance.
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I am thoroughly impressed with your speed, especially with a toddler at home! You made that quilt SO fast! My last quilt took me about a year, because I took loooong breaks in between steps.
Hopefully my rainbow quilt will come together in a more timely fashion. Your pre-cut squares would give me a huge head start! Thanks for sharing your leftovers!
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I think this might be one of my favorite projects of yours! Would love to try making one!!!!
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This is so fun! Simple = awesome. And all those line stitches — incredible! Well done, Elise! What a great gift you are giving – rainbows and sunshine!
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Love it! Just the inspiration I need to get sewing again!
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Amazing Elise! You are such an inspiration! I’ve been wanting to make a quilt and this definitely looks like a great starter quilt. 😉
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Fun! This looks like a quilt I might be able to make without the help of my super-quilter grandma..
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Turned out fun, beautiful and AWESOME! I hope this project is just what you needed to help you out of your funk. Sometimes a great project is just what you need. I would love to do a similar quilt although I have some fun ideas as to how I would make it different too. Happy Tuesday!
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This quilt is fantastic. Your fabric trip the other night and plan to make a big square quilt inspired me to make my own quilt this weekend, only the second I’ve ever made. And I’m so glad! I’m quilting it now and I love it. Definitely going to be making more, and soon.
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This quilt has inspired me to try to make one for the first time! Love it!
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To be honest: My holyday starts in a few days and on top of my to-do-list is “making a quilt”. I would love to sew a similar (maybe triangles?!) quilt for my nephew, who will be born in late October 🙂 ❤
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I’ve got one quilt under my belt and I think I’m ready for another one! Looks awesome!
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What a happy quilt. I’d love to make one too!
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So cute and graphic! and what a great non traditional baby blanket it would make! I’d love it. Thanks, Elise!
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Love the rainbow! I’ve been wanting to try quilting for a while, but haven’t gotten up the nerve. Mainly because I’m afraid of cutting out all the pieces. I think I would be okay with the actual sewing part…so I would be great to win pieces that are already cut. It would be enough motivation to launch me into trying something new.
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