I have liked patterns which have all the cutting instructions up front, so you can choose your fabrics and get all the cutting done up front.
Right now I am doing a Sue Garman medallion quilt which was a BOM so the instructions are all spread out over 12 lessons, but I like her instructions. She puts in little tips which help improve accuracy in piecing, and she includes all the paper-piecing pieces I need for each row. She uses diagrams and give little instructions on technique.
Some of it I could have muddled through own my own, but I always learn from the designer when following a pattern.
Good luck!