Very nice for a first quilt! Not one of the easiest to do. How much color do you want in your quilt? That's how you will figure out what color thread. Do you want the piecing to stand out or the quilting? That's another way to base what color thread for quilting. There is a multi colored thread... If you're going to a fabric store to rent their LA, then you can ask them which thread they'd recommend. You can still make up your own mind though. When quilting, if you've never done it before, you basically need to become one with the machine. You will know what I mean once you start. Being an artsy person, you may already understand me. In order to flow and make nice curves you can't be choppy while fmq. Good luck!