carolynjo

It sounds like you are about to get a handle on your fabric colors. Buy a cheap color wheel and study it. Learn which colors are complimentary and which are analogous, etc. Keep it with you when you are fabric shopping until you feel more comfortable with color. The hint about buying a "focus" fabric which contains many colors and then choosing colors that go with the colors in the focus fabric will work also. Keep on working on many pieces and it will get easier.

petthefabric

One mistake I made when first starting to quilt was picking a project that was too large, ie. a king size bed quilt. That one I finally got rid of, unfinished, and rarely even think of it. So, start with something smaller, maybe a wall hanging of the pattern you'd like to make into a bed quilt. Work out the challenges on that first smaller one.
As to colors: does the recipient have a color scheme going in that room to match? Or does she want to start a new color scheme? This depends upon the recient's ability with color.
This is an example of something I've done. As part of the healing process a friend (she had nursed her dying husband for over a year) wanted to get her bedroom decorated. She had curtains she wanted to match. And she had several yards of a matching fabric, md light torquoise. When asked what color she wanted with it, she immediated responded yellow. (Not my choice.) I selected several patterns for her choice to determine how many colors we needed and how much of each fabric. We went through our 2 stashes and selected more fabrics (we didn't need to buy anything). When the center was finished, there was enough fabric to make 2 narrow borders. The she and I went to the fabric store to choose the final large border, with her's as the final vote. It's on my quilt frame now (she also chose the pattern and thread color for quilting). She was here yesterday and wanted to watch as it got quilted. She said, "No one's ever done something so nice for me." The choices she made were definitely not the ones I would have made. But it's definitely her's and will fit very nicely into her bedroom. (A picture will be posted when I get it off the frame.)
So my advise is, make sure the fabric choices fit the recipient.

Bataplai

I was lucky to have a BFF that went with me my first few times picking out fabric for a project. When I get overwhelmed with my choices, which is often, I've learned to stop, re-focus on my goal and choose a focus fabric. The focus fabric is based on my vision for the end result (color, theme, recipient's taste, etc) and then I move through the store picking up complimentary colors. I can now go to the fabric store all by myself , but of course it's more fun with a friend.
I think there's a Craftsy class about color ways and such... sign up for an account and you'll get special offers on email for discounts on their classes.

ArtsyOne

I have a lousy sense of color and if left to my own decisions all of my quilts would look like mud. To compensate for my lack, I spend a lot of time looking at pictures of quilts on Google Images, Flickr and Pinterest to see what colors go together. When shopping, I just buy fabrics I like and often I'll get ideas for quilts just by looking at my stash and what others have done with those fabrics.

ube quilting

Over the years I have been quilting I have found that I always find a fabric that I love and build a quilt around it.
I usually use the beautiful fabric for the backing and the coordinating stuff for the quilt top.

Here is a sample:

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I even find the wow fabric and pick colors that work with itand put the wow fabric back on the shelf. I just use it to help pick colors and textures that feel good together, not just look good.

katesnanna

All good advice but may I add one more. My dear, stop worrying. If it doesn't please you you can always donate it for a charity quilt. I love making charity quilts.It makes me feel good to do something for someone else.

omgtimmcgraw

well i am new to quilting. i find my self going in to joanns i love looking at all fabrics and when i see something i like i am like i want to make this project with this then i am off and its hard to stop. lol

AZ Jane

LOL, I cheat. I take my husband. He is wonderful picking colors that go together! I'm thinking of renting him out! I pick the main fabric and he helps with the rest. He has done several quilts for me (actually all), his sister and now the granddaughter!

Sewnoma

This is how I do it, too.

fireworkslover

I usually find a pattern first or go with a theme and look for fabrics from my stash that might work. I make lots of small quilts for monthly challenges for a small group I'm in. These don't require lots of yardage, generally. If I don't have something I need and can't paint or dye it, I'll go to the store. Lots of times I'll make a mock up of the pattern block by cutting fabrics and gluing them on the paper pattern, to test fabrics. Or if I know what colors I want, I'll just use colored pencils to color the block and then once that's decided look for fabric to represent each of those colored sections. I know it seems confusing, since there's so many choices: prints VS solids for one. I mix up my prints - use Batiks and large and small prints, blenders, hand dyes, etc. I think it's more interesting that way. Some people find a designer or fabric line they like and just use fabrics from the line that go together. That might be a way to start for you. Whatever you do, enjoy the process. This is FUN!