Free rainbow quilt pattern
Create a clever pixel quilt that will add some sunshine to any room, using Sarah Ashford's quick-sew square arrangement
Published:
Sew your way over the rainbow with this eye-catching modern rainbow quilt pattern. It’s a great first pattern if you’re new to patchwork as it’s a pixel quilt, which means all you need to cut are simple squares of plain fabrics to piece up the quilt top.
Here’s how to make it…
Fabric requirements
- Fabric A (red) – ½yd
- Fabric B (orange) one (1) fat quarter
- Fabric C (yellow) one (1)Â fat quarter
- Fabric D (green) one (1) fat quarter
- Fabric E (blue) one (1) fat quarter
- Fabric F (pink) one (1) fat eighth
- Fabric G (purple) one (1)Â fat eighth
- Background fabric: 2¼yds
- Backing fabric: 3½yds
- Binding fabric: ½yd
Finished size
60in square
Notes
- Seam allowances are ¼in, unless otherwise noted.
- WOF = width of fabric.
- Press fabrics well before cutting.
- Fabric supplied by Robert Kaufman
- Bleached white batting supplied by Hobbs Bonded FibresÂ
Fabrics used
- Fabrics are all Kona Cotton Solids by Robert Kaufman as follows:
- Fabric A: Red
- Fabric B: Kumquat
- Fabric C: Corn Yellow
- Fabric D: Sour Apple
- Fabric E: Water
- Fabric F: Dahlia
- Fabric G: Azalea
You Will Need
- Fabric (See full fabric requirements list in the pattern), Kona Cotton Solids by Robert Kaufman
- Batting (64in square)
- Sewing machine
- Thread
Total time:
Cutting out
Step 1
- From Fabric A cut: Fifty (50) 3in squares.
- From Fabric B cut: Forty two (42) 3in squares.
- From Fabric C cut: Thirty (30) 3in squares.
- From Fabric D cut: Twenty six (26) 3in squares.
- From Fabric E cut: Twenty six (26) 3in squares.
- From Fabric F cut: Twenty (20) 3in squares.
- From Fabric G cut: Sixteen (16) 3in squares.
- From the background fabric cut: Three hundred and sixty six (366) 3in squares.
- From the binding fabric cut: Seven (7) 2½in x WOF strips.
Piecing the quilt top
Step 1
Arrange your squares into four sections, each twelve rows of twelve squares, referring to the Layout Diagram below. Sew the squares in each section into rows, pressing seams open or to one side. Sew the rows together to complete each section, carefully matching seams.
Step 2
Sew the sections into pairs, pressing seams to opposite sides on each pair. Then sew the pairs together, carefully matching seams to complete the quilt top.
Quilting and finishing
Step 1
Cut the backing fabric in half across the width. Remove the selvedges and sew the two pieces together using a ½in seam allowance. Press the seam open.
Step 2
Press the quilt top and backing well. Make a quilt sandwich by placing the backing fabric right side down, the batting on top, then place the quilt top centrally and right side up. Baste the layers together using your preferred method.
Step 3
Quilt as desired. Sarah quilted simple straight lines about ½in apart, using a white cotton thread. Trim off the excess batting and backing fabric and square up the quilt to 60in square.
Step 4
Sew the binding strips together end-to-end using diagonal seams. Press the seams open and trim the dog ears. Fold in half lengthways, wrong sides together, and press.
Step 5
Sew the binding to the right side of the quilt, creating a neat mitre at each corner. Fold the binding over to the back of the quilt and hand stitch in place around the edges to finish.
Authors
Sarah is a well-loved designer in the modern quilting industry. She’s been quilting for over a decade and is the Founder and Chairman of the South West Modern Quilt Guild. She loves Insta challenges and designing quilt patterns for craft magazines, including Love Patchwork & Quilting, Mollie Makes and Today’s Quilter (in which she is a columnist) and also designs for Aurifil Threads. She co-founded the Great British Quilter Instagram challenge and podcast and is a fan of English Paper Piecing. See more of her work at www.sarahashfordstudio.com or find her on Instagram @sarahashfordstudio.
