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.”
Love, love, love it! Need to make some for my boys!
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Would LOVE to win! I see so many beautiful quilts and have yet to make one, but this one looks like it would be a perfect “first” quilt! Thank you for the chance! Such a happy, fun quilt! XO!
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I’m new to making quilts, and yours are always an inspiration for me! Thanks for the chance 😊
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I bought a sewing machine many, many years ago, but have yet to use it. Since then, I’ve had three babies and gone through a divorce. As a single mama, my time and resources are incredibly limited, but I would love to take on a first time quilting project together with my five-year-old, rainbow obsessed daughter. Thank you for this opportunity to be on the receiving end of such a generous giveaway. Your talent and heart are both an inspiration.
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This quilt is beautiful and I would love to make one for my daughter! Thanks for hosting this awesome giveaway – love following your blog. 🙂
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Oh my! Definitely interested!
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I would love to get a stack of rainbow fabric! Such an awesome quilt idea … ❤️💛💚💙💜!
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OMG Meeeee!!! 😀
We are expecting our first baby in October, and I would LOVE to make a rainbow quilt as my very own special gift to baby (gender will be a surprise!) I have never quilted before, but have a sewing machine and this rainbow quilt is a dream. I am currently 34 weeks and a project like this would just be so fun before baby comes :). Great giveaway!!!
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This is so awesome! I can only imagine all of the wonderful picnics and playtime you guys will have with this quilt. I am not a sewer, but this looks like a project even I could tackle. As usual, your projects inspire me and make the difficult or unfamiliar craft seem totally doable.
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I would love to make this quilt, what stunning detail!
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Just found your blog through a post on ABM. I love it! This quilt is beautiful… Would love to make one for my soon to be baby girl’s room! Great giveaway idea! 🙂
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So interested! It’s been a while since I’ve made a quilt!
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Love this quilt! Would be fun to make my own.
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Would LOVE to win:) You rock elise!
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Please please please pick me! I ❤️💛💚💙💜 this! It’s gorgeous
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What an amazing giveaway! I just finished my first quilt for my baby miracle niece inspired by your baby quilt for Ellerie and I would love for this to be my second quilt!
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That’s so beautiful! I’m definitely putting this on my to-do list and I’d love to win a set of the fabric.
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Gorgeous! This would start me in the right direction for me first quilt! Thanks for the giveaway!
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My son has been begging for a rainbow quilt and with this fabric I could actually make it 🙂 For some reason cutting the squares always intimidates me…not to mention choosing the right colors. Keeping my fingers crossed!!
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I’m very impressed with how fast you always get quilts done. I’m so good at starting a top but lag in the quilting and binding. Maybe this top would go so fast that I’d actually finish?
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Love this so much! I’m inspired to tackle this for my first quilting project. I’ve been wanting to start quilting for awhile! So I’m entering!!
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This project was so fun and inspiring to follow along with on IG. My 10yo daughter is an avid hand sewer and we loved the updates! We’d love to have the fabric and make this together. Thanks for sharing your enthusiasm and joy in your creative process.
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Wow, great project! The fabric choice is always where I falter with quilting. would love to win the bundle….
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Ooh, that looks lovely! Thank you for the chance to win and make something cool like this too!
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This is a sweet little quilt! Thank you for sharing your process! I have never made a quilt, but it has been on my craft bucket list for quite some time and I think this project will be the one to help me break the ice. 🙂
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I’ve been dying to make a solid colors quilt! I just finished my baby’s first quilt & am in need of a new project, would love to take this on!!
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I love your quilt and I love the quilting method you chose! We have just redecorated our kids room and my daughter is having her half in a rainbow theme so I would love to make her a quilt! It’s hard to find such an amazing range of colours in NZ! Thanks for the opportunity
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My 10 month old has a rainbow room. This would be so fun to make.
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This looks amazing!! Id love to make one too!
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I love your rainbow!!! I have a couple of adopted grandchildren that I would love to make quilts for! Thanks so much for giving away your hardwork and money!!!
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This is fantastic! The rainbow colours speak to my hippie soul and the quilting looks achievable. This is something I would like to leave to a grandchild one day.
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Absolutely adore this! I want to stop everything and make one right now!!
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Your quilt is beautiful and this would be a fun easy quilt to make. Thanks for a fun giveaway!
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I’d love one of the rainbow fabric stacks! I’ve wanted to quilt {have a lovely pfaff machine, in fact} and this seems like an ideal beginner project.
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This quilt is awesome! I would love to make one myself!!
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What a great quilt!!! Making a rainbow quilt has been on my quilty to do list for several years just hasn’t quite happened yet. What great inspiration to remember it doesn’t have to be crazy complicated.
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Love this! My goal for the rest of the year is to get crafty again. And to break in my new sewing machine which I bought 5 years ago and haven’t used yet. You are so inspiring to try this on my own if I don’t win.
Love your blog and your style!
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I would SO love to make this! My friend recently gave me her sewing machine on long term loan so that I could hem some curtains and get crafty, and a quilt is top of my list!! My friend is expecting her 2nd baby in December and this quilt would be PERFECT to say ‘hi little one’ and also ‘thanks for the sewing machine!’ 🙂
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Would love them!
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Thanks for offering an awesome giveaway. Would love to make one! Receiving a stack of precut squares to make a beautiful quilt would be the best mail day!!
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What a wonderful work! I’d be so happy to win the fabric to try to do the same for my boys!! Thanks!
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This would be awesome to win! You. are. the. bomb.
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Love it!!!!
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Love this
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I would love to try out quitting this way!
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Free fabric that is precut?!?!? Sign me up! Thank you for the opportunity! I just love this project!
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I’m just obsessed with this project! I would love to make this quilt! Thanks for the wonderful inspiration.
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We would love to sew a rainbow quilt to match yours, here in Australia! My three daughters are rainbow and picnic obsessed, so this would be perfect. Thanks for the opportunity
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Yep! Definitely interested in winning this! Love it!
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Great giveaway
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