Little Penguin Quilts Through the Year

Little Penguin Quilts Through the Year

Friday, August 28, 2020

Rainbow Rails is a finish!

I'm closing out August with a finished quilt - my Tiny Rainbow Rails, all 1250 tiny pieces, is all done!

50.5 x 50.5

I had to hunt around a bit through the past couple years worth of blog posts to find out when I actually started this project and it was way back in September of 2017!   It began, as many of my quilts do these days, with an "I wonder what would happen if..." and some little scraps.

1.5 x 2.5 inch bits of a print sewn to the same size of a neutral = 2.5 inch squares.
25 of these squares sewn together = a 10 inch finished block.

I kept making  these blocks throughout 2018 and 2019 as leaders and enders in the Rainbow Scrap Challenge color of the month until I had 25 of them.  A dark, medium, and light version in each colorway, plus one brown and one black/gray block.


Rainbow Rails is quilted with a large spiral, which I started by drawing a diamond shape in the very center square, and then used the points of it to guide the beginning of the spiral.  


I found the perfect backing and binding fabric at Bernie's shop, Needle and Foot Fine Fabrics.  It's called Measure Up by Michael Miller Fabrics!


Although the quilting process isn't my favorite part of a project, I do love the chance to look through all the blocks and see favorite scraps that are in the quilt!

Of course there are penguins!

With Santa hats!

And owls


Cats on purple


And candy corn!


Lots of text fabric


Even a wine bottle or two!


And of course, flowers, swirls, dots, buttons, letters of the alphabet - just about anything you can think of!

In spite of the 90+ temperatures we've been having here this week, I've been determined to finish up Rainbow Rails for this post.

Hand-stitching the binding - 

Note the fan!

I even remembered to add a label!


Can you tell that I am happy to be sharing this finish?!  😍 


Sharing at my favorite weekend link-ups:
SoScrappy for ScrapHappy Saturday 
Kathy's Quilts for Slow Sunday Stitching 

































48 comments:

Kat said...

It is absolutely beautiful! I’ve watched the blocks progress over the months as I’ve read your blog. I really think making these as leaders and Enders would make it seem more manageable. I am really thinking I need to make one, too! Great job!

Carol R. said...

That turned out so nice.. and good size to snuggle under once winter hits.

Michele McLaughlin said...

Rainbow Rails is an awesome quilt!!! Well done you! I just love how this one turned out! Hugs!

Material Girl said...

I love rainbow rails! I’m not a fan of large pieces and I love scrap quilts. That little square you used in the middle fir the circular stitching is genius! Thanks for sharing!

Libby in TN said...

Such a happy quilt! and lots of little bits to jog your memory. I hope you are keeping this one.

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

I really like it and the spiral is an interesting way to quilt it - I didn't realize you had been working on it for 3 years it is always interesting to look back and see when you started work on a project and find it is a much longer time (or much shorter) time then you realize.

Vicki in MN said...

No way, really 2017? Doesn't seem that long ago! The spiral quilting seems just right for it.

Marly said...

Congratulations on finishing a lovely quilt from such a simple block. Isn't it fun finding all those memories among your scraps.

ThreadCatcher said...

Absolutely wonderful quilt! I like everything about it and have it on my bucket list as a L&E for next year. Thanks for sharing your process from start to finish.

maggie fellow said...

wonderful finish and such fun scrappy fabrics - they will bring smiles for years to come.

grammajudyb said...

It’s so fun to see your finish! It’s an awesome quilt! Binding in 90 degree heat was brave....bet the fan helped! Bravo!

The Joyful Quilter said...

Oh, how I love this quilt, Diann! From the very first block, I've been waiting for this day. Rainbow Rails did not disappoint!

Mari said...

Yahoo! This turned out fantastic. It will be fun to look through all those cute prints, especially once it turns cooler again. Pretty sure that will happen some day! Have a lovely weekend.

PaintedThread said...

I love how this turned out. Fantastic binding fabric, too! It looks great.

Barb Neiwert said...

What a fun quilt (always my favorite kind) and so worthy of your finish. I love the backing, and what fun to look at all the fabrics. Great quilting choice, too. A Win-Win!

Cathy said...

Congrats on the finish! I just love scrappy quilts with lots of fun things to spy with my little eye.

Susie H said...

Yay!!!! Bravo! Bravo! Spectacular finish!!! Love the spiral quilting and you're so right -- perfect backing and it made a fun binding as well!

QUILTING IS BLISSFUL, DI said...

I love your Rainbow quilt--so pretty and so many 'little' details in the fabrics--good for you for keeping with it and a finishing it--!! so what's next????
luv, di

LA Paylor said...

lookie there! So very terrific! I love how it came out, such tiny pieces yet so much to see. You don't live on a lake do you?

Tammy Hutchinson said...

Inspiring what you have done with so many tiny pieces! And we have matching maple rocking chairs! I was so surprised to see your quilt on my chair. :)

gayle said...

It doesn't seem like it's been that long since you started this! What a fantastic quilt you've created from that simple 'wonder what would happen'!!

Sheri said...

Wow! I love it. What a great scrappy quilt!

Deb A said...

Love, love, love this! Congrats on a great finish and I love how you quilted it. Was it difficult doing the spiral? I keep seeing quilts with this and love the look.....

Siouxzq64@gmail.com said...

I just love this quilt and yay for a finish!

Jenny said...

Your tiny blocks all sewn together make such a fabulous quilt, well done. Isn't L&E sewing wonderful, it just chugs along and before you know, all those blocks are done!

Louise said...

I love it in all its scrappy rainbow glory! What a super finish! Amazing how tiny pieces, sewn as leader/enders, can come together almost without effort into such a fun quilt. Congratulations on slow-cooking this one to perfection :)

piecefulwendy said...

What a wonderful finish - I love it! It looks great draped over the rocking chair, so happy and bright. Well done!

MissPat said...

The stripe is the perfect backing for your rainbow scrappy tiny rails quilt. I laughed at the picture of you with the quilt on your lap, bare feet sticking out and the fan running in the background. You've had a lot of finishes this year.
Pat

eileen said...

This is a fabulous, colorful quilt,love the bright colors and scrappiness!!
It has been fun seeing the process over these months!

Kat Scribner said...

I LOVE your tiny rainbow rails quilt. I have so many 1-1/2 inch strip leftovers, I wonder if i can keep this idea in my head too. Not alot of room left up there.

Chantal said...

Congratulations, Diann! It's gorgeous! All from tiny bits of scraps. I love it! You know I have a mind to make one now. Wow!
The temperature here have gone down considerably. It's a cool 19C in the morning. Hope you get some respite soon. Enjoy! ;^)

Rebecca Grace said...

YAY!! Congratulations, Diann! I love this quilt! You did such a great job with the color and value placement of all those scraps, fussy-cutting your darling little penguins instead of chopping them up, and I love the effect of your spiral quilting. Success all around!

Carla A Few Of My Favorite Things said...

Oh I really like your little rails! Maybe this is a way for me to enjoy the treadle and get rid of my stash! You got me thinking and congrats on a great finish!

Jayne said...

Diann...this is gorgeous! Besides the beautiful colors, the tiny pieces and the quilting, knowing that you have been working on it for so many years and now it's finished! It's a trip down memory lane for you with all the different prints. I love the photo with it on the rocker...very cozy and beautiful! Congrats!

Deanna W said...

Sometimes while working during hot weather, I set everything on a table and get the fabric off my lap. My friend also suggest putting the fan under the table to move the air around! Looks great, loving all those scraps!

CathieJ said...

I adore this quilt. How wonderful that it all started with "I wonder".

Julie in GA said...

I've enjoyed watching you make these blocks with their tiny pieces, and it's even better as a finished quilt! Absolutely gorgeous!

Karrin Hurd said...

Rainbow rails is gorgeous! Congratulations on the finish!

Quilter Kathy said...

OMG that is amazing! I adore it! It is such a special and unique quilt! Congratulations on the finish! Love the photo of you hand stitching the binding on such a large quilt in the hot weather, sitting in front of a fan, eager to finish it... I can relate!

Sylvia@Treadlestitches said...

Hurray! Congratulations! The quilt is terrific--perfect backing, perfect quilting! Hope you're doing the happy dance!

Cynthia Brunz Designs said...

Fantastic Finish Diann. I have enjoyed seeing this one come together. I love the quilting you did. Thanks for linking it up to Oh Scrap!

FlashinScissors said...

Loved reading about this one! It is a much bigger quilt than I thought when I saw it on Instagram! I love the way you did the spiral quilting and I might try that one day if I manage to finish a quilt 😂
Hugs,
Barbara xx

Bonnie said...

Wonderful quilt. What a devoted work of art. Loved the photo of it on the rocker. So very cool. Great job.

dq said...

That rainbow rails quilt is AMAZING to look at! Tiny pieces always make beautiful things as well!

Kim said...

Rainbow Rails is such a gorgeous quilt filled with so many fun and fabulous fabrics. Why, you could look at all those fabrics for a very long time. Congratulations on your fabulous finish.....you certainly finish a lot of quilts in what seems next to no time!

Kate said...

Congrats on another beautiful RSC quilt! Lots of fun scraps in that finish. And it can't really have been that long you were working on that quilt! I remember when you started it. Time really flies doesn't it.

Preeti said...

A very fitting post for such a gorgeous quilt. This has been such a long time in the making...I am thrilled with the finish. Lovely backing and binding too.
Thank you for sharing all the details. It is like being in the room. Love the toes peeking out and the fan - of course :-)

Janis said...

Love your rainbow rails quilt! Congratulations on a great finish. What a good project for using up very small scraps. I'm working on my first leaders/enders project and love that blocks are coming together for this little quilt while I'm getting my other projects done.