Ideas for borders to enlarge quilt for college-bound boy
 

This black/white/crayola quilt was a project of my LQS's BOM in 2011. The pattern has two options for the border: one another block repeated all around the sides (two busy for my taste) and the other just plain 6" border added to the current top. My problem is the adding 6" to each side doesn't give me a big enough quilt for a twin bed. This quilt will be a HS graduation gift for my nephew (good thing I have a few more months to complete it).

As I figure it, the quilt, currently 45x59, needs about 12-15" per side to bring it to the right size. Options:

(1) add long strips of the black/white/grey fabrics along each side (how many? going from narrow to wide?)
(2) add some more interesting borders.

Tempting as it might be to insert some color, I'm concerned about making it too colorful.

Also, I don't want too elaborate a border (i.e., putting too much effort into it) because we know how it's likely to be used/abused etc. by a college boy :-)

Sooooooo what are your suggestions?

Thanks for looking and for sharing your ideas!

Awesome quilt.

Beautiful quilt. I think I would go out on a limb and put a small border of the deep red like in the 2nd block and then put a larger border of the grey or black on it..

try these sites
http://www.victorianaquiltdesigns.ne...ltSettings.htm
http://www.quilterscache.com/B/Borders.html

Good job so far.
I agree with you about college kids lack of concern for details, such as caring for quilts, even if they appreciate them. You have already used several colors in this quilt. I would be inclined to use simple strips around the edges, alternating narrow strips of the colors you already have, especially the deep red, with wider strips of grey and black.

You could also use all the colors in the quilt and make a "piano keys" border as wide as needed all the way around.

My thought also was a piano key type of border using the colors in the top but with different key sizes. Not too much fuss with having to keep keys same size. I like your layout and colors, thanks for sharing.

Nice quilt!! What about black and white in various widths? I hope he takes care of it!!

Beautiful quilt!