too many colors or too close in color or too busy? never herd such a thing in a baby quilt. it will help stimulate the brain. :-) I would do what you want with the colors and patterns. But I will say this, if you want it to be used, the simpler the better when it comes for a baby quilt. unless you know the mommy well and she knows that you made it to be used. there are many mommies that don't want the blanket to get ruined. I have a few knitted blankets that I will be pulling out for my kids in a couple of years when i know that they wont destroy them to bits. (mostly because the wonderful ladies who made them would be hurt that they were torn to bits by kids.) my kids are a little rough on things.