I hate patterns with not enough words to explain what to do or assume the reader /quilter can mind guess.
Pictures don't explain everything photos are better .

I like lists that are bulleted

I actively dislike lists that are in paragraph form

All of the wants/needs are in Eleanor burns patterns....

Step by step explanations in simple terms. Diagrams of steps if appropriate. Multiple sizes with # of blocks needed to complete each size. Consider alternatives to making the blocks...i.e., "these blocks can be paper pieced" (and give the paper pieced pattern) or "you can use HST paper for this step".

Good luck! Hope all the suggestions you are receiving help.

Just a couple of points to consider-if using photographs look at the photo as it will appear in the pattern-taken in color but b/w in the pattern? A good amount of contrast will be lost so high contrast fabrics and tight focus to show important details are important. A picture that seems great, but is downsized for the pattern can lose contrast and detail. Also some techniques need left handed instructions as well as right handed. Deb Tucker does a great job with this.

I think the Terry Atkinson patterns are presented how I like to see them. Fabric requirements for all sizes are visible on the outside of the pattern, there is clear instruction on how many of each unit to make for every size presented, they tell if they are FQ or precut friendly, and the diagrams and instructions are clear. Seeing photos of the quilt in various sizes and colors is a nice bonus.

I mostly buy patterns for quilts that I can't figure out myself. For example, I just finished the Gravity quilt by Jaybird Quilts. The pattern for it was a book (too much to work out on my own), but very clearly laid out. There were lots of diagrams, and just enough text to explain. The text was simply written and not crowded. I would consider this an example of an extremely good pattern.

I don't like it when I have to "decode" a pattern before I can start on it. I like Judy Neimeyer quilts, but I hate her patterns - the text is crammed together, and everything is number/letter coded in a way that I don't find intuitive.

Rob--just did a VERY simple crib quilt pattern for a give away at the LQS--one thing that I struggled with (and I have to say I do not have a future as a pattern designer!) was how basic to make some of the directions and whether to include each little step. One thing that I did was put a list of abbreviations at the first (WOF, HST, etc) as this was intended as beginner pattern and us "old hands" sometimes forget that not everyone knows the lingo. Good Luck!

I definitely like this also! I usually want a size bigger or smaller than what the pattern is written for and hate having to try to figure out needed yardage, etc., on my own. Many times I will pass up a pattern if it doesn't have this information.

I miss Pam Bono too. I have all her books and info. So tragic.