I agree, but what I think I am meaning,lol, is what attracts you to a quilt right off. I am always attracted by color first then the others follow. I will go to the quilts at a show that don't attract me by color and look at the other elements and enjoy them too, but the color is what catches my "eye" right off in a room full of quilts. Even with just one quilt if it makes me ooooh and awwww with the color I have to get closer to view everything else.

And yet, color is the element that is most changeable, least stable in a quilt over time.

I think that much as I love color, I've learned to look beyond it when scanning quilts that I like, say on Pinterest or in a show. I get frustrated with friends and family who can't seem to look beyond the colors of types of fabric pictured when I suggest a design or style of quilt. So I guess for myself, actual colors are not the key element -- I'll be more about the values or the contrasts. It's reflected in my shopping too -- I am never one to spend a long time debating between 5 shades of beige or which white "goes".

Even as I say that color isn't the key for me, I admit I make exceptions -- there are some Kaffe Fassett designs where the colors are the star players, and nothing can alter that.

Color is definitely the deciding factor for me...if the colors do not catch my eye, I don't care for the pattern or the quilting.

Color, design, then quilting pattern. That was a good question. It made me think.

I have to agree. Overall design first, then break it down. Saw a quilt at a show and there was so much dense quilting on it, you could barely make out the design or the colors. Just that it was a light colored quilt. The quilting was also done with variegated thread that only added to the confusion.

I too see color first. If I like what I see, then I look at the pattern. A whole cloth always catches my eye for beautiful quilting. Some times heavy quilting takes away from the quilt itself as I don't know where to look.

I notice the colors, then design and the rest. Colors always catch my eye first.

For sure what RST said!

it's the visual impact first and that usually includes the design, color, and contrast. Sometimes it its the quilting. Since I began quilting I use all types of colors so color itself will not determine my interest.

But it's also what interests me. I am not interested in traditional applique so I won't spend a lot of time looking at a Baltimore album unless the colors, setting, and/or quilting are striking.

Since I got a longarm I pay more attention to quilting details than I used to, also.

It is simple, I see the total package: pattern, execution and fabric used.