Hi,
I just put this quilt together - it is a Turning Twenty pattern, made with Joel Dewberry Aviary fabrics that I had to order online. I want to get it quilted, but I think it is too small to give as a lap quilt. It is about 55 by 55. I have no more fabric and no one around here has that fabric. Could you give me some ideas on how to make this bigger without having that fabric? Maybe just another 8 to 10 inches on one side, doesn't have to be all around. Thank you in advance, I appreciate any help!
nancy

I'm guessing here that maybe a border or two of similar colors?

I think a wide border or maybe two all the way around from similar colors would look nice.

i would border it in the dark color, can't tell if it is black or navy

Take the top with you to the quilt store. Pick a medium and a dark or a light and a medium or maybe a light and dark that go with the fabrics for the borders. The borders can be in the same colors without being from the same fabric line.

For a lap quilt the size is good as is.

What do you plan to back it with? Do you have enough of that to put a border on the front? I think 55" x 55" is plenty big for a lap quilt, though.

Find and buy more of the same fabric, if you feel you must, but leaving it that size still makes a great throw size unless it's a big man

The size you have is a good size for a lap quilt. I like to make my lap quilts longer so they cover my feet when I lie down. To do that with your quilt you would need to add a border on the top and bottom. I'm sure you could find some fabric(s) to coordinate with the quilt at your local fabric shop.

Dark brown 6 inch border would look nice, I agree with another post that the width is fine. I would just add a border to the top and bottom.

I like the size for a lap quilt.

If you can't find the same fabric, check out some of the marbles or other blender fabrics. If you can, bring the quilt top to the shop with you and "test drive" a few to see what looks best with it. I like borders on my quilts, regardless of the size, so I tend to add a couple, one narrow, one wider. It's like adding matting/framing to a picture. It finishes it off nicely.

Thanks for the suggestions. I agree that the width is fine, but my niece is 5ft8inches, and I would like it to cover from her feet to her neck, so I am going to go buy some good quality fabric at the quilting store. It is black, so I think black, because the yellow would be really hard to match/coordinate with.

Thank you so much!
Nancy

Take to the store. I would go with very little to no print in a color to go with what you have. I think darker color would frame your quilt beautifully.