Most of the time I choose the pattern first. Occasionally, because I make a lot of QFK quilts, I have fabric that I have to find a pattern for. For example, I have a scrap of great fabric with monkeys on it that someone donated - but there is only about 16 inches. There isn't enough of it to do any of the "standard" QFK's patterns so I to find something that will work or, if I can't find a pattern that will work, I make something up!