I have books of patterns -I copy patterns from library books and magazines and thru the years I have followed the instructions for 3 or 4. The truth is I fall in love with a color scheme first and then let them pick out the pattern -my brother says my quilts are like carving a piece of wood you don't know what is hiding inside and its always a beautiful surprise.This also explains some of my fabric purchases if it doesn't speak or yell at me then it is left at the store for it to call on some one else to take it home.