A Scrappy, Rainbow Kristen Quilt
If you’ve been here for a while, you know I only make quilts I genuinely want to make—and that’s exactly why I enjoy each one so much. When I say a quilt was “so much fun” to sew, I really mean it—and this scrappy rainbow Kristen Quilt was no exception. I absolutely loved making it!
Why I Made This Scrappy Rainbow Quilt
Originally, my plan for the quiltalong was to make a scrappy Rifle Paper Co. quilt (don’t worry, I’ll be sharing that version soon!). But once I started thinking about color, I couldn’t resist the idea of making a scrappy rainbow version too.
I didn’t have the time to fussy cut every square, and honestly, I’m not sure I even have enough novelty prints in a full range of rainbow colors. Still, I tried to include a few fun squares throughout the quilt.
A Quilt Filled with Unique Fabrics
One of my personal goals with this project was to use unique fabric prints throughout the quilt. I mostly succeeded—although I did spot one duplicate print (a purple floral). It happens! But overall, the variety of prints helped give the quilt that eclectic, scrappy feel I was hoping for.
Background Fabric: Low Volume + Leftovers
For the background, I used a mix of scrappy low-volume prints and leftover white or off-white solids from previous projects. Often when I finish a quilt, I’m left with small strips or cuts of background fabric—and this quilt was the perfect opportunity to use some of them up.
If you’ve been wondering how to use up your background fabric scraps, this is a great pattern for it!
Quilt Backing and Binding
For the quilt backing, I went with a 108” wide Tula Pink Fairy Dust print—a favorite that I’ve been saving for just the right project. I knew I wanted something by Tula Pink for the backing because I had already chosen my binding fabric: a bold rainbow houndstooth print. The scale of the print worked beautifully for binding and pulled all the colors from the quilt top together perfectly.
Quilting Details: Diagonal Scallops
For the quilting, I chose a diagonal scallop design. I didn’t mark the lines—I just used the corners of the blocks as a guide. Because the lines are gently curved, it helps disguise any wobbles or imperfections, which makes it a forgiving and fun technique to try if you want something different from straight-line quilting.
Final Thoughts
This scrappy rainbow quilt was truly a joyful project. It’s beginner-friendly, perfect for using up stash fabric and low-volume scraps, and a great excuse to mix your favorite prints in a colorful and creative way.
If you’re looking for a project that’s full of color, texture, and movement—this one’s for you. I’ll be sharing more about my Rifle Paper Co. version soon, so stay tuned
If you would like to check out posts from the Kristen Quiltalong, click here.