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.”
Count me in! 🙂
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That’s beautiful! Making a quilt is on my crafty to do list someday. My mom quilts (like by hand) but I like your method-not sure I have the patience for the hand method.
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Such a fun giveaway!! I’d love a chance to make a quilt 🙂
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Gorgeous! I need a quilt like this in my life. I’d love to win!
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Elise, looking at your quilting projects has rekindled the flame for sitting at my neglected sewing machine and actually making something as opposed to mending LOL. This would be a great project to put my old rotary cutter to!
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i’d love to make one ❤
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I’m obsessed with this quilt! I’ve never made a quilt but been wanting to try….. It’s beautiful!
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Would love to try this! Thanks!
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Would love for this to be my next project!
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I would love to win the rainbow fabric! I would use it to make my niece a nice “big sister” present when her new sister arrives in January 🙂
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I would LOVE to win this!! Just finished a quilt for each of my kids and would love to make a fun picnic quilt for the family!! Thanks for the chance!
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My first baby (girl!) is coming in December and I would love to make her a quilt. I haven’t settled on anything because it seems a bit daunting (my first quilt too) but it looks like you’ve already done a bit of the leg work, so I wouldn’t let you (or me or baby girl) down if I won! Thanks for the give away!
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Great project! Thanks for sharing!
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This is a gorgeous quilt and I would love to try something like this, especially being new to sewing myself.
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I LOVE this quilt! I’ve been looking for a great first-time quilting project as well as something new to give my niece (she’s outgrown the baby blanket I knitted). Thanks for sharing such an awesome idea!
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Gorgeous quilt! Love a chance to win.
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Oh I so love this! So bright and fun! I’m completely inspired to make one of my own! Great job!
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Followed it on instagram! so sweet. I would love to win. Love your blog and podcast. Thanks for the giveaway.
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Looove! Crossing fingers – it seems like a good one for my mom to quilting to my daughter. thanks for the chance!
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Wanna see the quilt in Sydney. Pick me!!
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Love love love your quilt, Would love to make my first quilt, choosing the fabric always stops me starting!!! This would be perfect 🙂
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Yes please, I started sewing in march and this could be a great next project.
Thanks for giving.
Astrid
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This is so totally awesome. Rainbow is my favorite color! 😊 I’d love the extra fabric to make one of my own!
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You win the internet today. This is so awesome, and would make me show my sewing machine who’s boss. (Sadly, she’s the boss, sigh…)
I hope to win, thanks for the opportunity!
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Oooh yes please! Your quilt worked out so well Elise! All of those horizontal lines really make it. (I totally have some batting and gold sparkle binding in the cupboard too. Fabulous work!! Xx
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Love the colors you chose!
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that quilt is absolutely beautiful. I’d love to copycat it with your fabric! Thanks!
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My mom is a great quilter and my daughter loves rainbows…would love the squares. And my mom still thanks me for the quilting books I buy for her that you recommend on occasion. Thanks!
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such a fun turnout! I just made a baby quilt for our second girl, and now want to do more. I have a gingham one pinned on one of my boards!
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I loved this when you shared it originally on Instagram and I love it even more now it’s finished. Totally beautiful.
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Beautiful! Would love to make my own!
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Oh! I’ve wanted to start quilting for so long now. This could be the jumpstart I need!!
What a cute giveaway – thank you!
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OK … these pics on Instagram of your progress have been so inspiring! And then to learn you’re giving away fabric is even more exciting. Would love to win! 🙂 I assume you’re doing all of this on a regular sewing machine right? I am still very much a novice when using mine but I think I could tackle a project like this. Thanks!
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It is lovely! I would love to win a fun stack of fabric. 🙂
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Beautiful! Can’t wait to try making my own!
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So cool! Would love to try one! 🙂
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BEAUTIFUL!!! Would be a proud rainbow quilt owner if I won!!
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Wow! Its so pretty!! would love to put one together myself 🙂
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This quilt is fantastic! What an amazing job you did on choosing the fabrics. Thanks for the chance to win!
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LOVE this quilt! Love the bright colors, the geometric lines of the squares and quilting and the easy-ness of it! My kind of quilt!!
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I adore this quilt!!! Actually, I adore all of your quilts… In fact, I blame you ENTIRELY for my current quilting addiction (and every night taken up with my equilateral triangles!).
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I love it and would love to make my own! Thanks, Elise!!!
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This is a beautiful project. I would love to make a quilt and this would be a perfect quilt for any occassion.
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Love the quilt! Would love to make one for new baby. I think we are only a few weeks apart I am due 11/9 with my second baby girl. Thanks for the opportunity to win such a great prize!
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I love this! It looks like such a fun project & I’ve always wanted to make a quilt! 🙂
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Beautiful! This would be perfect for our nursery as we’re going for a rainbow theme 🙂 crosses fingers
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So much rainbow-y goodness! I love the way your quilt turned out! I’d love to win one of the stacks! My 5 year old daughter is in a rainbow phase right now and she’s been asking for a rainbow blanket. This would be PERFECT!!
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Those would be great colors for our kids’ room!
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I love your quilts! You make me think I could make one, too! I love the simplicity of the large squares.
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pick me pick me pick me! 🙂
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