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.”
Well done!! My kids would love this for picnics too.
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That is a beautiful quilt! Thanks for inspiring me to return to making quilts. I would love to win this fabric!!!
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Would love to win one set!! Love your quilt!! Enjoy your picnic today!!
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thanks for the chance to win! Picking colors would be the hardest part for me too 🙂
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I LOVE this. I’ll be making one whether I win or not!!
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I would love to win this fabric stack! It’s been ages since I’ve quilted but (ironically) I lugged all of my fabric out the other day to stare at it and reorganize it. This would be the kick in the butt I need to get my sewing machine out.
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I think this is my favorite quilt of the ones you’ve made. I think I love the simplicity of it and you can’t beat a rainbow!
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My sister is expecting twins, this would be a great present for them! Hope I win 🙂
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This was the coolest quilt ever. I would love to win:)
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Love the colors! Would have so much fun making one of my own.
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It looks awesome! What a fun project, and how sweet of you to share:) Have you ever thought about billing yourself as a fabric consultant? 🙂 I bet you could put together wonderful fabric bundles for quilts that people would love to have!
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Awesome!
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I LOVE this quilt! It matches the “COLOR!” theme we did for my son’s first birthday photos! I actually just started sewing again this week and would love to win the fabric. Making a quilt is on my bucket list!
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This turned out great! I’d love to win some rainbow fabric!
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This is gorgeous – I’d love to make one of my own!
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I would love to win this. The quilt is fabulous and I would love to make one!!
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This is soooooo beautiful Elise. constantly inspired by you! I would love to replicate this – the colours are so beautiful and what a treat for a little one! Pick meeeeeeee! (pretty please!)
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You are inspiring! I would love to create a rainbow quilt for my family to enjoy.
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I keep chickening out in quilting. If I win, it’s a sign and I’m going for it.
I love this quilt!
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I think everyone needs a rainbow quilt! This is too perfect and your picnic will be the prettiest!!
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I love the colors you picked out – your quilt came out beautifully! My little boy would love for me to make him a quilt. (They help make great forts!)
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This is soooooo beautiful Elise. constantly inspired by you! I would love to replicate this – the colours are so beautiful and what a treat for a little one! Pick meeeeeeee! (pretty please!)
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I would love to get one of these to make my first quilt! Thank you so much for the inspiration!
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I’d LOVE to win this! It would be my first quilt and I can’t wait to get started!
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That quilt looks awesome! Great giveaway.
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Your quilt is definitely something your girls will treasure for years to come. They will be sharing stories with their children about the adventures this quilt took them on. Keep inspiring us all!
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Love how your quilt turned out. I’ve never quilted, but I’ve got a new sewing machine, and that looks like a really fun project to give quilting a try.
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I love this project. I just purchased my first brand new sewing machine and this would be a wonderful way to break it in.
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I love the rainbows! And I need to do that more often: get an idea for a project and crank it out right away! Thanks!
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What a kind gesture! Please enter my name into the drawing! And thanks for sharing so much loveliness through your blog and social media.
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Wow!! It looks awesome Elise! My twin girls would look so cute on a quilt like that! their crib quilt is inspired by the one you did for Ellerie!
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I love this quilt and would be thrilled to have a set of your leftover squares. I used to quilt regularly but got burned out. I would probably make a very similar quilt for my almost 8 month old daughter.
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Beautiful quilt! This is great inspiration to try making my first quilt. Thanks for the chance to win!
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so so awesome Elise. Thank you for this giveaway. I am following Get Quilty and creating my first quilt. Thank you for always sharing your quilting process.
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Oh how fun 🙂 one of my 2015 goals is to make two quilts this year – one for our bed and one for our baby girl. I pieced together a quilt-top for her and then decided I didn’t like it…so this would be an amazing choice instead! thanks for the chance Elise!
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Hands down my favorite project/quilt ever. I’ve never quilted anything in my life, but this seems like a great project to start with!
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I’ve never tried quilting, but this would be a totally inspiring 1st project! Thanks for sharing this Elise. Very cute!
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Hands down my favorite project/quilt I’ve ever seen! I’ve never sewn a quilt in my life, but think this would be a fun project to start with.
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What a lovely quilt! I would love to make one like it 😛
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OOOOOOH WOW just can I say I’d BUY a set for whatever money?!! Isn’t it possible?! HOW I’D LOVE TO BUY A SET OF FABRIC FOR A QUILT FROM YOU! We don’t have quilting or even fabric shops here where I live (a tiny town in Russia) and I’m not experienced enough to pick fabric online but YOU! HAVE SUCH AN EYE for color and texture and just about everything))) I’m a big fan. Love all your quilts. Hope one day you’ll make a few fabric sets for sale!!!
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I’d love to try my hand at making one of these! The end result is gorgeous. Thanks, Elise!
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I’d love the chance to play with these colors! Fingers crossed!
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Such an awesome idea for a giveaway!
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This would be an awesome first project with my sewing machine! All those nice straight lines! Great quilt.
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I love it! I think this is just what I need to get started in quilting. If I win a bundle I’ll be excited to start that for sure. Thank you for the chance. 🙂
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It’s beautiful! This would be a perfect first quilt project! Thanks for the giveaway!
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This is fantastic! Love the color progression–you did such a fantastic job choosing.
I’d love to make one too. My little boy is requesting a rainbow wall, and a rainbow quilt would be icing on the cake.
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LOVE your quilt! I have wanted to bust into the world of quilting and this would be the ideal way! A mini picnic blanket for my 16 month old son would be amazing. Thanks for offering this giveaway!
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I love your quilt and would love to make one too. Thanks for a chance to win.
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Love it! And I’d love to win a bundle as my girls are all into rainbows right now! Gorgeous!
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