About the only times I follow a pattern are if it's a mystery quilt or if it's something I like that is a new technique that I can't figure out on my own.
Otherwise a pattern is a starting point and anyone looking at the finished product may or may not be able to figure out what I actually started from.
Early in my quilting experience I came across a magazine article that got my ideas rolling. Don't even remember what the magazine or article was. Just remember it was bright with interesting color progression. Anyway the quilt that resulted from that was an around the world in about a dozen muted shades of greens!