How can you tell if a craft pattern is good?

My crochet patterns include a written explanation row by row and a crochet chart. You should definitely expect this, or it must be explicitly stated. Additional detailed photos are often helpful in making the explanations easier to understand.

I write my patterns in great detail so that as many beginners as possible can follow along. That’s why there’s a general section with explanations, so you have the most important information upfront and can easily visualize how the crochet project comes together. Special stitches are also explained in detail, so you’re always learning something new—and you’ll see what alternatives are available.

Before I buy a pattern, it has to be clear which stitches are used, how much yarn I’ll need, and how big the finished piece will be. This must be clearly stated in the description and reiterated in the pattern itself.

After all, you don’t know how the pattern is written or whether it suits you until after you’ve bought it, which is why I think it’s important to offer a free pattern as an example so you can get a sense of how my patterns are structured.
That should help make a good first impression.