Teeler good job in explaining it .. I go for whatever color if I am making for someone else and find the complimentery color. If I am just making a quilt-I find the pattern I want; right now I am stuck on the 10 minut block which takes 5 materials or 4 solids and 1 multicolored depending on what I feel at that moment. I go with a pattern in mind pick out the middle first which will be the main fabric (whether 4 patch, 9 patch or strips.logcabin or whatever), then I decide what coordinating colors after picking out a couple of colors in the main fabric.
Does that make sense Deborah H? It all feels overwhelming at first, but it will get better with time, patience and a good seam ripper ...