If I find a pattern I like I print it out several times and color them with colors until I find out what color combinations I like best then go fabric shopping. Most of the time I just buy the fabrics I fall in love with then go looking for a patters and fabrics that go good with it.

Thanks BellaBoo for the advise.

Deborah, I have been quilting for 3 years, and this color selection has not gotten any easier for me. However, I now allow myself to enjoy the process, rather than being frightened of it. I am no expert, for sure, and probably never will be. I do try to make sure I have darks, lights, and mediums. And when I am in doubt, I go with different shades and fabrics of one of one color. That always pleases me. I know I still tend to "match" fabric too much, when often I should be looking for a contrast. I envy those more experienced who just "know" when a fabric is right. I never know, and I can't visualize at all a finished quilt by looking at fabric. But, like I said, I am now enjoying the process when it used to terrify me.

You will get better at it, and if that doesn't happen, you will just get more comfortable with it. :)

Dina

Thanks Dina, I'll have to remember that about the darks, mediums and lights. That's a good way to determine it.

You've gotten great advice here (as always!). I first pick out the pattern I want to use then move onto the fabric selection. As the others have said, I pick out the main focus fabric - or at least main color I want - first. Sometimes I'll pick out a couple of different main fabrics as it might be easier to get the remaining colors to work with one of those focus fabrics than another. When I get the first couple of colors together, I'll lay the bolts next to or on top of another with proportionate amounts of the fabric on the bolt showing that will be in the quilt. Kind of like the 'squinty look' that someone else mentioned. Any one or more of the colors or just the fabrics themselves might change a few times before I have it all worked out. I don't go fabric shopping when I have somewhere to be at a certain time!

Many times the sales folks, particularly in a LQS, will be more than happy to help you with fabric/color selection. Sometimes I'll have it all picked out, look at it for a bit and completely change my mind, put it all back and try again another day.

As to stash...I'll probably be one of the few people here to tell you not to worry about it. Particularly at this stage in your quilting career. Your tastes will likely change ALOT in the coming years and what you think is really great right now could easily become one of those 'what was I thinking?' fabrics. Just overbuy for your projects. That way you will have enough fabric to account for booboos in your current project and you'll end up with a bit of a stash over time. I don't have room for a stash and don't have to worry about the bucks I'm spending on it either. Or deciding that after a couple of years I'll use x fabric for this quilt only to not have enough of it for where in the quilt I want to use it and then can't find more of it.

Just relax and enjoy the process. It's not a race.

Gosh, I never knew that! I thought it was just a manufacturer symbol!! :)

Thanks NJ Quilter. Great advice. I do enjoy putting the pieces together and watching it develop into a great design. It's like a puzzle to me and I love putting puzzles together. Just watching the pieces form a picture is really neat. I'm glad to see that others have to take time to decide on colors too. That makes me feel a little better. I really enjoy this forum and all the very talented people on here. Thanks for all the help.

EllieGirl, me too :)

Because sometime finding the colors means I have more than one quilt going at a time. One I have figured and some in the process so I can wash, starch, press, cut and sew in stages.

I start with the main fabric which will direct the colors. Then I pull fabrics to go with it trying to mix and match scale and value. A lot depends on the pattern I plan to make. I often fold the fabric so it will be close to the size of the actual piece just to see if the fabric comes through OK. When all the fabrics are selected, I lay them out on top of each other and step back. Often, I rearrange the order to get a better feel for the match. Or I squint to see if anything jumps out at me.