I think pattern and structure, as said above, are the two most important.

If you are looking at pastel crosses, get a nice light or golden normal female.

I have a really reduced normal female that I may throw with my spider someday just to see if the spider offspring are more reduced than the father. I don't think it's been established, however, what effect the normal parent has with the spider offspring. I think it will be interesting to see.

JonV