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.”
Such an awesome quilt. I love rainbows too. Thanks for the chance to win!!
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Love this quilt! I’d love to make one myself and the idea of using it at the park for a picnic sounds so great. Thanks for including us!
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I love rainbows! Thanks for the fun giveaway…
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It’s gorgeous and so cheerful!
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Even if I don’t win the stack I’ve already decided I will be making a similar quilt for my first shot at quilting. Thanks for the inspiration!
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I’d love this! My friend has been teaching me to use my sewing machine so this would be such a fun and useful first big project for me.
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I would love to make to have the fabric to make my own version of this quilt. What a great giveaway!
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Love this! I’ve been dreaming of actually quilting but so intimidated to start. Such a fun idea, I love reading your blog, you are so inspiring and simple, a perfect combo! Thanks for the chance to win, regardless I WILL create a quilt! 🙂
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have been wrapped up in a hand stitched quilt, and would love to make such a simple & beautiful one for a break!
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I’m interested! I’ve always wanted to make a quilt and this sounds like an easy way to start.
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Such an amazing quilt!! My two boys actually love rainbows and “helping” me sew. This would be a great project for us!!
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yes, please! i have been wanting to start quilting for a while now (reading up and pawing at fabrics) and this looks like a great way to start! thank you : )
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Love this quilt! Thanks for the chance to win!
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it’s beautiful!
i am ready to dive into quilting. i just got get quilty yesterday and would absolutely love to start with an easy rainbow.
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What a treat for the eyes and there is nothing like your own little “blankie”. I live in a rural area so getting the material would be awesome. Thanks for your generosity to your blog readers. I love seeing the pics of Ellerie and can’t wait for the new “little” to make her appearance.
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Your quilt looks great – I love the straight line quilting. Thanks for the chance to make one. Our house needs a rainbow quilt.
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Awesome quilt – thanks for the inspiration!
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Thank you! I like the idea of the alternating thread – wonder if it would work with darker contrasting colours? I’ve never made a whole quilt, only parts of hexagon quilts by hand and cushion covers so this looks (perhaps!) simple enough to start with? Enjoy the picnic! x
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I love your quilt! It turned out great. Thanks for the chance to win the fabric to make one myself.
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Awesome – I love that quilt. Even if I don’t win, that is definitely something I’d like to do
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I have always wanted to make a quilt! I would do it now.
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This quilt turned out so beautiful!! And for an aspiring quilter, I’m totally intrigued by the ease/simplicity of 10-inch squares!
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Love this so much Elise! You’re a brilliant quilting inspiration.
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Id love to win this!
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so cute. i’ve always wanted to make a quilt, but have felt quite intimidated by it. watching you whip these out so fast is super inspirational!! winning the fabric would be the kick in the pants i need to finally make one. 🙂
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Beautiful! A rainbow quilt would go perfectly with a rainbow t-shirt yarn rug I’m working on and I’ve never made a quilt so it’d be an opportunity to give quilting a shot! Fingers crossed for my chance to win!
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Your quilt us soooo beautiful Elise. Thank you for yet another brilliant, generous giveaway, please enter me as I would love to win.
Many thanks
Jeni x
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I’m totally inspired to make my own – looks like the perfect, easy, project. Thanks for the giveaway!
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for the love, i HAVE to win this!!!! gorgeous!!! ❤
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What a fabulously fun project and gorgeous quilt! Thanks for a fun giveaway!!
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How awesome! I would make it and give it to my best friend, she’s due w/#2 in January and not finding out the sex. Plus she would love it, regardless! Thanks for the awesome inspiration!
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I have been looking for a simple quilting project to get me back on my machine and I think this is it. I love the horizontal lines for the quilting! So beautiful.
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GORGEOUS quilt. Here’s to many more picnics in the park!
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I’d love this gorgeous fabric! Making a quilt is on my bucket list but choosing colors & fabric has been my biggest hurdle to actually starting!
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I have been wanting to sew my first quilt for a while now but have always felt so intimidated. This just might be the push I am needing. Perfect timing for a new little one we are welcoming in January! Thanks Elise:)
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I just learned to quilt this year! Love it. I have made two!
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love it soooooooo much! It’s super gorgeous! From the blog post where you showed your fabric I couldn’t wait to see the final product, and here it is, even more beautiful than I imagined! It would be amazing to be able to make one myself as well! Have fun using it at the picnic!
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This quilt is AMAZING! I showed your Instagram photo to my 4yr old daughter and her eyes just lit up! She said “could you make that for me mama, it’s beautiful!” I would be so grateful to win the fabric to make my little lady one.
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This looks like so much fun and would be great as my first quilt!
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Loving the bright colors! I believe that life should be lived with all of the colors that life has to provide.
You did a great job, don’t fret about the small red square, it’s hardly noticeable! You deserve a pat on your back!
Or even a hug 🙂
The giveaway is such a nice gesture on your end, I’m interested. 🙂
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This quilt is amazing! I would love a chance to win!
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It looks so pretty! I’ve just started quilting myself, and your posts on your quilts are so helpful.
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Love this so much! I love that your projects always inspire me to action 🙂
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I’m interested! I love rainbows! and stripes! 🙂
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I am so inspired! This would be my first quilt! I’ve been thinking about it for sometime since I’ve been watching you create quilts over the years. Oh, how I’d love to win!!!!!
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I would LOVE this because I’m starting my first quilt for baby #2 this weekend and I’m so pumped! Your blog has made me want to quilt as I’m already a graphic designer and crafter so why not graphically design in fabric?! I’m so inspired by you & this rainbow quilt is bananas.
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This is beautiful and kudos to you for coming up with an idea and executing so quickly. I hope your picnic was fun! I would love to win one of the 3 bundles!!
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I’m actually planning to buy a new sewing machine this week so I can FINALLY finish the baby quilt I started for my ten-month old before he was born! So it would be great to have another project at the ready!
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This is my favorite! I was showing my family your instagram picture last night. I just finished my third triangle quilt and would be SO HAPPY to win some rainbow fabric. Seriously, not even going to put my sewing machine away. 😉
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Adorable! Might have to con Grandma into teaching me how to quilt finally!
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