pick you color scheme, blues ,pinks, greens, whatever try to get 5-6 different hues from light to dark in your color pallet. if you take a picture in b&w it's easier to judge light/dark values. there is also a tool, don't know what it's called but it's red plastic and if you look at the fabric through it, you don't see color, just value. and most workers at the LQS are very helpful with these things, it just takes a bit of courage to ask. We all gotta learn things one at a time so don't ever feel silly for having to ask things.