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.”
Fabulous colour selections and a great starter quilt idea. I can never get the fabric selection right and always give up. This certainly would make it easy.
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That would be such a fun quilt!!!
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This turned out beautifully!! I’m always so amazed and inspired by your ability to dream up and conquer such simple but rad projects!
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Yay!! Would love to make a copy of this quilt. Good excuse to dust off the sewing machine.
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This would be such a fun quilt to make & gift. I already know the person who could use a bit of brightening to her day.
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Would love love love this set!!!
New to quilting, but would so love to try this one!
Thanks always for the great inspiration!
Did I mention that I love it?!?!?!
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My wife would love this 🙂
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That looks awesome!!
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Quilting is so good for my soul…well, pretty much any sewing is. This quilt looks like a dream to make. I’m sure you and your family will have fond memories of spreading it out for picnics, building forts or snuggling up with it! What a beautiful gift to share with whomever is lucky enough to win the giveaway!
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I’ve never made a quilt before but this looks like an awesome first project! I would love the fabric to try it out!
-Caroline
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This is such a great giveaway! I have wanted to make my 1st quilt for a long time, and this is just the push I need to start! I am so excited to try out those rainbow squares!
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My wife would love this as a supprise 🙂
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Would love to win these and be able to complete my first quilt!!! Awesome job!
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So interested in this super cool quilt as my first!! It’s perfect😍
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I love this so much! I really want to make my own 🙂
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This could be an awesome Christmas gift for my baby daughter.
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This project is totally on my to do list now! Even better if I were to win the fabric of course! Yay thanks as always Elise 🙂
Meeks
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this is one of my favorite projects by you to date! such a simple concept, but it packs a lot of punch. I’ve been contemplating my first quilt for years and I think this is now the route I want to go. thanks for the inspiration!
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Love, love this rainbow quilt!! What a great inspiring giveaway!! Thanks, Elise!
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Well my 8 yr old daughter would love to help me sew this right up
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Love this quilt top!! I’m all about the large patchwork lately, too. 🙂 Thanks so much for offering up your leftover fabric!! 🙂
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Love the result! Simple design and process but you get such a huge impact from the colors and the arrangement of the fabric. You nailed it again Elise!
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Would love to make this quilt!
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Absolutely beautiful!
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simple & so lovely
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Oh my wow!! Your quilt is amazing and your color and shade selection is perfect. I would love your extra rainbow fabric to try one of my own! Thanks Elise!!
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Great giveaway! Thank you!
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Would love to get a start on quilting this way! Looks beautiful!
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It’s so cheerful. Who doesn’t need a good looking take-out-of-the-house quilt, instead of some ratty, relegated thing. It also looks like something I could actually pull off.
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This is one of the cutest quilts ever! I would love, love, love to be the winner! Oh please pick me!! and…thank you!!
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Love this quilt! It would be awesome to make my own!
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Yes please. What a beautiful quilt you made, I’d love to make a similar one.
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Love the quilt and love that Bam! you knocked out and got it done! Nothing better than a picnic on a quilt.
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Yessss please!!! :):)
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I am dying over this quilt!
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Count me in – and you are so kind to have not only inspired us, but to have cut the squares for three of us!! 😉 If I was ever enticed to quilt — this has done it. The colors you selected are amazing. Thanks for the opportunity!
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Love this! Would love to win a stack of fabric to create my own! Thanks!
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Love this and would love to make one too!
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Oh please pick me!!! I am in such a quilting rut and would love this to kickstart me!!!
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Beautiful!! I’m 7 1/2 months pregnant and it’d be so nice to receive a basically half done quilt!! Please pick me!! 😉
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I love this! I am new to sewing and this feels like something that I could actually make. Fun!
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This quilt is a dream! I have on my to so list this year to make a quilt for my kids’ shared room and this would be PERFECTION! The only part of the quilt I have set is a black and white stripe I bought just for the binding. I think it’s meant to be, if you asked me! In high school and even into college I had a white bed spread and multi colored pillows in rainbow colors and that’s what this reminds me of! Don’t you love it when a random inspiration is just what you need?
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What a fun idea and I need to make a baby quilt. This would be perfect!
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I love rainbows too & am super inspired by your project & how fast you got it done!
I’m hoping that if I get this giveaway I’ll finally use the sewing machine that my dad bought for me on a whim (which is extremely rare!!) a few years ago :’)
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Well I’d love to try!
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What a pretty quilt! I love to do larger squares. Otherwise, I never end up finishing my quilts. Lol!
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I would love to win … Just the nudge I was looking for.
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I’d love this!
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I’d love to make a quilt for my sister in law who’s about to have a baby. This would be perfect.
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Love your blog Elise! And your quilts 🙂
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