I always look at the color first. If I don't like the color/combinations of color then I look no further. If I like what I see in color then my second look is the pattern. I guess it's because I have such a difficult time with colors. But then my problem is that I want to make the quilt exactly as what I see because that's what I'm drawn to. I really need to branch out & find my own self. I never look at binding unless it's very unusual.