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.”
I would love to win this and tackle making a quilt for the very first time!
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Oh this quilt just looks so ‘happy’ and I could definitely use some colors while weather gets darker here in Copenhagen, Denmark. This would surely help getting some ‘hygge’ time (a pure Danish concept) as they say here.
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I told myself at the beginning of the year that 2015 would be the year I finally try my hand at making my first quilt. I LOVE the way this turned out and I’d be so happy to take some fabric off your hands. 😉 Thank you for sharing your creative endeavors. It’s always so inspiring!
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Oh my goodness, this is gorgeous, Elise! This would be the perfect project for getting more practice with my Brother sewing machine under my belt. I’ve been dying to do something like this!!
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This quilt is so pretty! I’d love to try making an easy quilt.
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This is such a BEAUTIFUL quilt …you have inspired me to make one !!! I would love to start right away and having all the colors picked out and pre-cut and ready to sew would be the BEST !! 🙂
Thank you for inspiring like you do !!
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I love making the tops, just have a hard time quilting the 3 pieces then binding.
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Very sweet, the colour fade is beautiful! I would love to make one of my own.
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Gorgeous! Love this project! I would love to win the fabric!
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I could die! I have a guest room that could use this POP of color!
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Oh this is so sweet of you. I would love to make one especially since we are moving into our first home soon and adding a pop of colour would really brighten the place up.
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Love love love this quilt! I have been thinking about making another quilt recently with all the inspiration I’ve seen on your blog, winning this giveaway would be a great way to get back into it 🙂
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Fingers crossed. I haven’t made a quilt since my son was born last year … and man oh man do I miss it. Great inspirational project. Thanks!
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Mentally cataloging fabric to figure out how many more colours I need to get hold of to replicate this. Thanks for the inspiration boost 🙂 and the reminder that big projects can come together quickly!
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I would love to win this!!! Rainbows are my jam, and rainbows+quilting=life made! Love how it turned out!
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I would love to make this; it’s so bright and fun and perfect for beating away winter blues 🙂
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Beautiful quilt! I would love to win some fabric.
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I would love to win to make my first quilt! Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
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I have been away from quilting for quite some time and this would be such a fun way to get back into it! And you’ve gone and done all of the hard work already! Thank you so much for sharing your talents and your supplies in this give away. Hoping I win a set of quilt squares!
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I love this quilt! I would love to make one and if I can win free fabric for it EVEN BETTER! Thanks for the chance and great job on the quilt!
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This is so beautiful! I would love to win the fabric. My grandma made many, many quilts, and I hope to follow in her footsteps. She passed away just over a year ago, and I have so many precious memories of sitting in her sewing room with her while she made them. She lived a block away from us so my sister and I were there ALL the time! I know when I do have a chance to start a quilt, it will not be near as detailed as the ones she made, but I know she would still be proud. 🙂 I think this would be the perfect project to start out with. Thank you for the chance to win, and for all your inspiration! Enjoy your picnic with your sweet girl! 🙂
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Yes please, what a wonderful giveaway! xo
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This is so beautiful and so fun, Elise! Would love to win this fabric and spend my fall making a colorful rainbow quilt to beat the grey weather outside 🙂 Hope the picnic is super fun!
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I’d love this! X
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Elise I LOVE this quilt! It’s simple and colourful at the same time. I’m so inspired to try my hand at my first quilt after seeing this. Thanks for sharing!
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Man, I would love to win and make a rainbow quilt for my babygirl!!! I’m also due in early November 🙂
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Elise I LOVE this quilt! It’s simple and colourful at the same time. I’m so inspired to try my hand at my first quilt after seeing this. Thanks for sharing!
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Ooh! Well done Elise! It looks beautiful! I would love to make a similar one to gift to my sister in law, who is currently pregnant with her first baby and suffering from horrendous morning sickness. Would love to brighten her day.
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What a generous giveaway! I’d love to win and make a quilt for my new baby girl. :)))
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It turned out great. Love the look, would love to try. Thanks for sharing!
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I absolutely love this and I would love to make one! I have been trying to make sure I always have a project going since when I don’t I find myself perusing the internet a bit too much and this would be an awesome new project!
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what a great project, and you did the hard part of finding all the fabrics already!! count me in pretty please! i think i could handle this. there are no triangles. triangles scare me for a first quilt.
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I would love one! What a cute project!
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This is great – I’d love to use these beautiful fabrics. I’m getting back into quilting after a few years hiatus and this would be a great project to start with!
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Who wouldn’t want a shot at those colours. Love it!
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I love the rainbow design! Would love to make one for my little girl as well! Thank you for the chance to win!
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I think this is one of my favorites of yours as well. Would love to win the fabric, but I may just make one of my own either way!
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I love it, such a great rainbow project! I would love to make one for my little girl! Thank you for the chance to win!
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interested!!! this is perfection.
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What a beauty quilt of colour! I think that the horizontal lines you quilted are my favourite part. You’ve inspired me to do the same on the next quilt I make…maybe even with rainbows?? I’m going on a little quilt retreat with my mom this fall, and that’s where I get most of my sewing creativity done.
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Oh my goodness. I am in love. I would love to win a bundle! I have yet to commit to trying a quilt but have wanted to for years. This would be the perfect first quilt!
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Love your blog and your quilts!! Thanks for the glance to win and the opportunity to win.
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I would luv to win! It’s so cute!
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The quilt is amazing Elise !!! You did a great job and in so little time ! I’m impressed !!!! I’d love to win one of the batch to sew my first quilt !!!! Thanks for the opportunity.
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I’m TOTALLY interested and I hate sewing….how you are convincing me to try it- I don’t know. But I’m game! Thanks!
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I swore off quilting, but am tempted to give it another whirl 🙂
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Making a quilt for my little one is on my fall fun list this year!
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Absolutely need this quilt in my life, you did a fantastic job as per usual. I loved the idea from the moment you introduced it on Instagram. I’ve been dying to make a quilt for so long but it hasn’t been in the budget (cough cough grad school). I’m planning on making one as a wedding gift this fall based on your triangle Christmas quilts, this one would be a great quilting refresher 😉
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This is perfect! It would be my first quilt project…I think I can handle it!
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Omg would love to make one for my little girl!!!! After reading about your daughter’s 1st bday party. I decided before she was even born we would have a Rainbow bright themed party.
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