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.”
I have wanted to make a quilt for so long now but always feared it’d be too complicated – this one seems to be quite manageable and I LOVE the outcome!! ❤
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Winning this fabric would definitely be the push I need to dust off the sewing machine! Well, after a few quilting lessons from my MIL! 😉
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Love the rainbow colors. Thank you for the chance.
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I would love this fabric! Been wanting to make a quilt but get so overwhelmed at the fabric store I just end up leaving. 🙂
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I discovered one of one quilts (your inspiration) a while back and making a similar quilt has been on my project list for a few months! Having rainbow fabric in hand would be just the motivation I need!! Yours turned out beautifully!!! Plus, I have a few friends expecting babies soon… 🙂 Thanks for all the inspiration Elise! (On this, and everything else you do!)
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This fabric would be so awesome to use as a Flying Geese pattern! Darkest surrounded by lightest, then reverse. It would take some planning for sure, but man, it could be so rad.
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Love!! I’m currently working on a triangle quilt and would love something easier for my next project.
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I would love to give this a try for my little girl due in late October. This will be our third child and since they are not getting much else new it would be gift. And you might see it around town because I live in San Diego too 🙂 oh and the insomnia is terrible this pregnancy so I feel you!
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Love the colors and especially love the quilting!
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Yes Please! My least favorite part of quilting is the cutting! haha! This is such a fun blanket!
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Definitely would love to make on of these blanket!! Hope I win!!
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The quilt looks awesome and looks to be a simple process. I turned 30 this year and have been doing 30 new things in my thirtieth year. Make a quilt is on my list. This looks like a quilt I could attempt to make. Thanks fro the idea.
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So cute! Am a total novice to quilting, but would love to learn. This looks like something I might be able to manage!
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Such a lovely final product! I feel like this giveaway was made for me. I’d LOVE to win!
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Wow, this quilt looks awesome!! I wish I could win those! Especially since it’s so hard to find a nice fabric store around here. I’m not even sure mine offers so many solids… I’ll have to check it anyway because now I need to make a rainbow quilt.
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I’d LOVE to win this! I need to get started on a quilt for baby #2, and working on this might get me in the mood. 😉
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So fun! I’d love to make a rainbow quilt for my baby girl!
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I’ve been dying over this since you first posted it on IG. I’d love to win!!
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Wonderful quilt – so lovely. Simple and bold, just how I like it!
Would love a chance to make one of my own!
Thank you for sharing.
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Love this. The simplicity, the lines accross the surface, the shades. I would love to make one myself!
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Thanks for the giveaway Elise! I once called rainbow my favourite “colour” and would love to make a rainbow quilt.
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Great giveaway – so inspiring – would love to win!
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What an inspiration to all! I’m looking for an idea for a handmade gift for my new grandbaby due in 4 weeks and you nailed it!
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Rainbows are my JAM. I’d love to win and have a fall project to work on! Looks FANTASTIC!
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Great job choosing fabrics! I’d love to make a rainbow quilt!!
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Wow! I love it. I was watching the progression via instagram and its just soo pretty. swoon
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This quilt is so striking and beautiful! I would love to make one, and to have gorgeous colored fabric, PRE-CUT(!) would allow me to actually make it happen! 🙂 Thx!
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I’ve never made a quilt before but I’m in love with this one!
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too cute. this would kick my butt back into sewing!
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I would love to win! I quilted more when I was in college, then newly married; it would be great to get back to it, and this would be a nice way to ease back into it.
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I LOVE this quilt and would love to make one for my girls!!
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Such an awesome quilt idea! Would love to make one of my own. 🙂
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this is the kind of quilt I would like to do. It is stunning when done, but not so intricate that I would give up mid way.
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My daughter would love this! It’s in my 30 by 30 bucket list to make her a quilt!
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This is the perfect picnic blanket! I’d love to win, but if I don’t I’m adding it to my Christmas giving list. Everyone needs a rainbow blanket
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Such a pretty quilt – love it and so summery!
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Oh so so cute! I do not think I would have enough patience to pick out all of those colours and shades at the fabric store, but it was so worth it–your quilt is gorgeous! Thanks for sharing and thanks for the opportunity to potentially win 🙂
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I’d love to have an opportunity to win, I have been wanting to make my first quilt for a while now 🙂
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I would love to make this quilt! So pretty!
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How fun! I’d love to try this.
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I’m not a rainbow fan but your rainbow quilt is really nice, it inspired me to make one!
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This is beautiful! I’ve always loved the simple stripes on a quilt top…it adds so much texture and dimension! Love your color choices, Elise!
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Ever since I made my first quilt my senior year of high school I’ve been dying to make another quilt! I love this!
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So fun! I love the colors you chose.
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Oh yes please, this is gorgeous and I have never quilted bwfore!
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I would love to make this my first quilt!
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Love this project! And I would love the fabric to try it on my own!
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I have never made a quilt, but this looks so amazing. I love the rainbow colors. You are such an inspiration with these kind of projects. Thank you so much for the chance to win!
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Wow, this is a beautiful quilt! I’d love to make one, too. This will be my very first quilt ever – thank you for the inspiration!
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Love the color combination. Great job! Would luv to sew one up just like it. Thanks for the giveaway Elise!
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