I rarely us just a plain colour unless the pattern requires it. Tone on tone, batiks and small floral look solid from a distance or a photograph so don't be fooled by pictures. Find a pattern, look up free ones, especially with loads o f pattern fabric and try to reproduce with same fabrics or similar. From your local shops. Or buy a small quilt kit in which you can see plenty of different patterned fabrics. Look up quiltville with loads of different fabrics scrappy. If you are in a group ask for a free handful of small pieces from friends and others in group and make a quilt from quiltville. It's like marmite love or hate.