I call it a curse. When I see a pattern, I have trouble visualizing it in other colours and have to lay fabric out before I can "see" it. I'm also quick to notice all kind of visual quirks which is most annoying especially when watching movies!
But, I do like mystery quilts. The instructions have pictures to get me through each step, and I like watching how the quilt progresses. Mystery quilts have taken me into patterns I would not have tried otherwise.