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.”
Your quilt turned out beautifully! I’d love to win and try my hand at quilting.
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Love the finished product! I would love to finally learn to quilt.
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I have a little one on the way via ivf and would love to make this quilt to celebrate the happiness this baby will bring us
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Lovely! I’ve always wanted to make a rainbow quilt!
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Hi Elise, I have my first little one on the way and have been pinning and pining over lovely quilts on the web, this is the one that might just make me take the plunge! Thank you so much for the awesome giveaway – would love to win!
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Loving this so much!!! Rainbows make me happy. 🙂 So do quilts that come together quickly. lol
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Brand new machine, would love to win! Thanks for being amazing!
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This is so beautiful. I would love to make one!!
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My rainbow loving daughter and I would love the chance to work on a rainbow quilt together!
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What a fantastic giveaway! I’ve never had aspirations to make a quilt until you started posting photos of this project!
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What a bright and happy quilt it turned out great. I’ve made a few quilting errors here and there as I’m learning and have been frustrated at the time but let it go. The quilts I’ve made are for my family and they love them flaws and all. Thanks for the sharing and the chance to make my own rainbow quilt.
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Wow – I would love to win this! My kids are obsessed with rainbows right now!
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I am all in! Would love to make one!
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Wow! This would be awesome. I’ve been itching to make my first quilt for years! 😍
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This came out great Elise! You may have inspired me to just start cutting out some squares and whip up a quick quilt with my fat quarter leftovers. BTW I would LOVE to win the fabrics, longing for a super simple something instead of all the UFO’s all over my studio!
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Wow! I would love to win! My mother will make an amazing quilt for my daughter !
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Hi Elise! This is inspiring! And the colors are so fab… I’m learning how to sew and would love to try your project out.
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I love this! Sign me up!
-Sarah
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Count me in the giveaway, please! Lovely, lovely quilt 🙂
Have a great day!
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Ooh this quilt is so pretty! I would love to win and make one too!
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I’ve never made a quilt before and have been looking for my first quilting project – thanks to you Elise I have found it! I love rainbows and this is just so me. I’d really like to make one. Thanks.
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I love this project: so many possibilities with colour gradients!
Thanks for sharing & offering the remaining fabric pieces.
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I just bought my first sewing machine with hopes of making a quilt. I didn’t know where to start. After reading this blog along with watching some youtube videos I know I can do it. This seems like it would be the perfect first quilt!!
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I adore this quilt and love to win so I could make one of my own! Heck, I’d be happy to pay for the fabrics since you’ve already done the legwork! You have such a great eye, Elise!
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Really Pretty and Cheerful!
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I love how your end result turned out! I started with a small square quilt a while back but these colours are truly inspiring! Thanks for the chance to win!
Kinjal, Hong Kong
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I LOVE the yummy, juicy colors and would so enjoy making one for our family!
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This quilt is so great. You did a wonderful job! I am definitely feeling inspired to make my own now so winning the pre cut squares would be amazing! This would be an awesome engagement present to give my sister and future sister-in-law!
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Best quilt ever! I’m so in love! And the little girl, that will be here in no time, would love it too 🙂
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Love it! So cheerful at the end of the summer! Just what is needed on a rainy day in the UK 🙂
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Your quilt is a stunner! I am such a sucker for rainbows, and the shades you chose for this are particularly beautiful. I have never quilted before, but like so many things, always wanted to try. Even if I’m not chosen, this looks like a simple, yet stunning pattern to start with! Thank you!
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Oh I would love to win these quilting materials! I am new to quilting and working on a quilt for our first baby (due this winter) – I love all of these beautiful bright colors!
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I have never made a quilt and would love to try my hand at it. This giveaway would be a perfect first opportunity! Love the blog, by the way. 🙂
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Yes please! It’s like happiness in fabric form. 🙂
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LOVE this quilt! You did a great job and are so inspiring! I’d love to make one like it.
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I’ve been itching to do a quilt this fall, and a ombre rainbow would be lovely!
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Amazing quilt, as always! Thanks for the opportunity to win! Can’t wait to get settled in our new home so I can set up my sewing table again (we are moving on Friday and are living out of boxes!)
Thanks again!
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I am in a bit of a crafty dry spell at the moment, and would love the kick in the pants that would be a bunch of new fabric to play with!!! also, I love the feeling of finishing a project and knowing that I MADE THAT.
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I’ve never even tried a quilt but have always to!!! I have a brand new sewing machine all ready to go. To start with a precut stack of fabric would be like an easy push into the swimming pool!!! A rainbow quilt would be perfect for one of my granddaughters who makes pictures of rainbows ALL THE TIME! I sure would love to win!
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I’ve never tried a quilt but it’s on my bucket list. I’m a knitter and cross stitcher and, back in the day, I sewed a good bit. Now that I’m retired, I’m ready for new challenges. I have a brand new sewing machine read to go. A precut stack of fabric would be a wonderful way to start a new adventure..kind of a gentle push into the pool, so to speak. One of my granddaughters loves rainbows……well, who doesn’t love rainbows?…..and draws pictures of them ALL THE TIME! I’m excited!
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This is seriously such a gorgeous quilt! I don’t quilt myself but I’d looooove to show this to my mom and have her make one for me 🙂 (or maybe teach me to do it myself haha)
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Coolest giveaway ever!
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I have a sewing machine but have never sewn a quilt. I love this project.
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Such a beautiful quilt. I so inspired and would to give this a try. Hope I win to help start things off 🙂
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I would absolutely love the fabric to make this quilt! It would be perfect to take to the park with my two girls! It is beautiful!
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Yes please! Love this quilt and love an all solids look.
Thanks for the chance.
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I would love to be one of the recipients of this giveaway. I love to quilt but do not always do the best job at picking out colors/co-ordinating fabrics. I would definitely screw this up with “hues”.
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i would love to make a rainbow quilt! Thanks for the opportunity!
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Great job, Elise! And I love this giveaway!
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This is beautiful! I would love to make this for family adventures!
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