I go according for whom the quilt is meant - at least at this stage of my quilting - all family gets a quilt first before any donations. Each person has something about them that puts a pattern in mind for them. Like my niece is a horse gal.... great outdoors person - so outdoorsy print with horses on it for her with the horses being appliqued on the blocks. My great niece is a Barbie nut - so pinks and purples and she loves fans.. so a fan quilt with those colors as backgrounds. Two niece and nephews love farm animals, but live in town - so animals quilts for them. My other niece loves earthtones; not fussy about pattern, so will find my earthtones together, and see what I come up with. Have not come up with a pattern for her yet, but she is down the list a ways, so have not given her a lot of thought yet.