Oh boy, have you asked a question where you will get a lot of different answers. I have made quilts both ways. I go the fabric store and see fabric that I cannot live with out then go look for a pattern. Other times I see a pattern that I just love and have to go buy fabric for it. For a beginner, I would suggest selecting a simple pattern first, like a nine patch then select the fabric. Use the search function for pattern ideas. Whatever you select first with quilting doesn't really matter to me.