First Impressions Ideas
 

When you see a quilt anywhere, from guest bed to thrift store to quilt shows, what is the first thing you look at?
I look at the color and design, then the quilting pattern. I've heard of people looking straight at the binding and that made me gulp!
Just curious what you all look out for:) Hope none of you mind.

I usually look at the pattern first, then the color. I have never even looked at the binding. If it interests me enough t add to my "to do" list, then I ask to take a picture for future reference. I have a few pics that I have not been able to track down the names of the patterns. I don't know of a reason why anybody would think of the binding before overall quilt design.

I guess my first impression is an overall look. Nothing in particular that I take into account first. If I am interested in it then I do look for design, and especially block units.

I look at the color and design.

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.

I definitely look at color first. If the quilt is muddy greens and browns, I don't even notice that it may have fabulous quilting, perfect piecing and a binding that goes with it perfectly. Doesn't matter to me if the quilt is traditional, contemporary or ultra-modern - I'm attracted by color combinations because that's my weakness in planning a quilt.

I don't see many quilts in person; does looking at photos count? I think I notice genre first -- is it modern, traditional, a baby quilt, an heirloom quality quilt, primitive or fancy, etc.

I always look at the color first and then if it isn't a color of my liking then I look at the pattern and visualize how the pattern would look in my color choices. I never really look at the quilting or binding.

I think I just get an overall impression, then I try and analyze what I like. Sometimes it's color or specific fabric, sometimes it's the pattern and sometimes it's the fabric placement.

I look at color, pattern and fabric quality. Then I look at quilting. i dont care about binding. even if it is worn on the edge, it is easy to rebind a quilt, but you cant change the colors easily.

It's hard to say. Sometimes it's the design/pattern. Other times a bright color or fabric just seems to jump out. Sometimes it's the originality & great idea.

If I'm looking just for pleasure, I look at pattern first, then color, then if I really love it, the quilting. Who cares about the binding. If I'm considering buying, I look at color first.

It's usually color that grabs me first, and sometimes it grabs me in a bad way. If the colors clash or the overall look is just weird (to me) I don't try to analyze it any further, just kind of turn away mentally.
If the color is exciting, interesting or soothing, then I give a second look, and take in the pattern, quilting, and the general feel of the quilt. I would only notice the binding if it stood out in some way.

overall, color, pattern, quilting-----binding is a distant 5th! I've always heard that at big shows judges are very picky about binding as it can be a "deal breaker".

think it's like a woman dressed up--we notice overall, notice the dress (color), notice the fit(pattern), notice the quilting (accessorizing) and if we notice dirty nails it's like bad binding!

Honestly, I look at the quilting first, and the piecing, because I like to see if it is done by hand or machine. Then I look at the colors, pattern etc.

Being a LongArm quilter, I usually look at the overall quilt then get up close and look at the quilting.

I look at the pattern and try to figure out how it is put together, then I look at the colors and think about how different colors would effect the overall look, and also consider ways to make it easily. I do look at bindings, just to see if they've used a technique I don't know. I am an engineer, so I'm always more interested in how things are put together just by nature.

My first thought when you mention people looking at the binding before seeing the quilt is that these are the same people that upon entering a house, they check the top of the door jam for dust instead of being happy to visit the people. I would prefer not to know those folks!

Same here and am always impressed with the amount of work that went into it whether by hand or machine. I despise quilt police. Spent the last 2 weeks with my brother and his wife. She had a friend who was looking at an older quilt that belonged her mother made for her when she turned 13 as she did for all her girls when they turned 13. I saw the beauty and the love that went into it. Her friend (?) pointed out ?flaws?. I told her those were her mother's signature imprints of love. ALso told my sister-in-law not to allow quilt police in her home again. Rudeee!!!

I get an overall impression of the quilt, then look at the pattern, then the color. I like to know how they are made (I, too, am an engineer) then see if I think I would be able to replicate the pattern.

Pattern and borders are my interests. Binding is my least interest when I look at a quilt.

i look at the pattern and color. it's the first thing you see. binding you have to look closer to see.

I notice pattern & color first. Then a closer look at the quilting. Sometimes I'll make a note of the pattern if I would like to make it myself.

I see design first, then fabrics/colors, then the quilting. Binding is binding... pretty much the same on all quilts!

I usually look at the fabric and colors chosen for the quilt. That is what first catches my eye. Then I look at the pattern. Does it look easy or difficult? Next I see what quilting design choices were made..straight line, tied, all-over quilting or custom quilted designs. If I remember, I look at the binding last to see what color was chosen.

I see the total impact of the color and pattern. I don't spend a lot of time thinking about how I would do it differently. Only when I am looking for a new project do I start to contemplate whether or not fabric I have would fit a pattern I see. I simply enjoy other people's work and appreciate it for what it is. I rarely look at anyone's work to critique its construction quality. I know that my own work is better than some and worse that others. I just love quilts and quilters.

Color is what draws my eye first, then pattern and design. After that, points and workmanship, because I envy others' ability to do those things so well. Smiles. I never look close enough to see the binding details unless I am just looking to see how it was done. And in that I mean technique, not quality of work.

The colors and then the pattern. I am very bad at not paying much attention if the colors don't catch my eye.

I look at overall impact first, then color choices. I do not inspect for errors of any kind. I just enjoy seeing others art work. I would not look for errors on the Mona Lisa either.

It has changed for me over time. I used to look at the piecing and the pattern first. Color isn't too important for me because I can translate that in my own imagination. Then I got better at FMQ and now I look at the quilting first.

if the borders are wonky, wavy, they turn me off, especially when they are put up for awards.

I look at the stitches AND look for a tag that says made in China.like you see in stores .like Wal-Mart. And k.Mart.and Tuesday's Tec.then I look for colour and pattern If you wash a Chinese quilt it will come apart.also the stitches look like basting stitches No thanks.I wouldn't not take it for free.IMHO.CMARAS1234. Ps sometimes you can see where the Tag has been cut off.but those stitches are a Dead giveaway

The color is usually what catches my eye first. I love color! Then the design. Everything else comes after.

I look at the pattern and color first....then I look to see if it was made out of the country by sweatshop workers. I will not purchase those quilts.