How about a two color quilt and the third as a border, churn and dash, hunters star, shoo fly, square in a square, etc.

You have a challenge in front of you now, it is time to soar!
peace

EDIT: Can you ost pictures of the fabric? That would give everyone a better idea of how to use it. Don't fret to much. Some of the ideas here are good two color designs. Keep us updated too.
peace

Is there a decent amount of contrast between the red/black print and the solid black fabric? If not, can you go crazy with the quilting to make it a really spectacular quilt? Is it just one red and black print or are there 10 different ones?

D4P, log cabin, potato chips...

My mom wanted a black and red quilt years ago. At the time I was more of a pastel person. I thought "black and red? Ugh!" But it wasn't about me. She was very picky and it HAD to be just those two colors. Took nearly a year to find all the fabric she wanted. At the last place she picked out this black and red that had these white things in it. I was shocked and expressed my hesitation as she had ONLY wanted two colors...but it was her quilt...blah, blah, blah. Made her a huge log cabin. Looked great. Next time I saw her quilt, she had used a black sharpie marker and blackened out the white symbols! OYE!

You could always make a pinwheel quilt, it only uses 2 colors.

Snowball? Alternating blocks?

https://www.google.com/search?q=two+...w=1280&bih=890

Just "googled" two color quilts.
Wow, there's a bunch to choose from.
Let us know what you end up doing. :cool:

I made a falling charms quilt using 2 colors. Came out nice

So even though she bought the "gift" for you, she gets the quilt? Seems to me that if the FQ's were given to you, that you would have a choice of adding to them, if you wanted to. I think a D9P would be pretty, but unless you add at least some white, that's going to be a VERY dark quilt and with not a lot of contrast. I would tell her it NEEDS at least 1 other color. Since it's not very good fabric, I wouldn't spend tons of time on it, which is where the D9P would come in. It's easy, and looks great.

Would she consider letting you add a solid red fabric that matches the red in the black/red pattern? You wouldn't be adding colors but you would give yourself more options and perhaps add a little brightness and contrast to the quilt. Good luck and let us know what you decide to do.

How about disappearing 4 patch.