i prefer a quilt with some contrast, but there are some beautiful totally pastel quilts as well

I don't believe in someone else's shoulds.

Ive also heard every quilt should have some yellow.
othrts say some orange.
I dont follow rules.
There are no rules in quilting

I'd say that black and white can pop a pattern but to say it "should be there" is ludicrous.

I like to use contrasting fabric in alot of my quilts, but not always black or white. On the one I just finished, I used green. And sometimes I want the quilt to be calm - almost bland for a specific purpose and I don't use a fabric with a strong contrast. To each his own.

I will admit that the quilts that I have done with either some black for white as accents, I have really loved, as it really seems to push the pattern. Was never really a solid color person, until I did my first star with all white centers, really loved how it seemed to calm down the other colors. I will say that I think the key would be a solid, more than just black or white.....IMHO :)

I heard the yellow "rule" once too. At the time I wondered how you were supposed to put "a little yellow" in a red and white or blue and white quilt but I didn't say anything. I'm thinking there's a good chance those "rules" of some black, white and yellow were related to scrap quilts and not color scheme quilts.

Never heard of this black & white B.S.

My only Quilt Color Rule is that the colors should be pleasing and not make one feel ill.