Beginner-friendly patterns: What do you need?

Dear users and authors,
what should you keep in mind if you want to buy or create a beginner-friendly pattern?
Let me know.

You should keep in mind that beginners don’t know many things that are second nature to advanced crafters.
When in doubt, it’s better to explain too much than too little.
A beginner-friendly pattern should be detailed from the start and include plenty of pictures.
Details such as sewing individual pieces together should also be covered.

For those looking for beginner-friendly patterns: the description usually says whether the pattern is suitable for beginners :-)
And one more tip for beginners: if something isn’t clear, ask questions!
Most authors are very happy to answer any questions that come up; you may even learn something yourself for writing patterns that way.

In most cases, I write my patterns as I go, while I’m knitting or crocheting at the same time.
Otherwise, a lot of details get left out because it seems obvious to me that you do this step first and then the next one.

For beginners, I think it’s important that the individual steps are clearly laid out.
So instead of continuous running text, I prefer to start a new line when the next (pattern) row begins and to number them.

Even though I’ve been knitting and crocheting for several decades, instructions written as continuous text still throw me off.

Detailed photos are also very helpful.

Otherwise, I also recommend contacting the author if you’re unsure about anything.

I think that once you’ve been knitting (or crocheting) for a while, you tend to forget a bit what those first stitches were like.
Fundamentally, I don’t believe it’s the authors’ job to teach people how to knit. You should already have some basic knowledge. That’s what textbooks and YouTube are for. I assume that people who get a pattern—from wherever—to knit a specific piece already know how to knit and purl. I don’t need to photograph those stitches every single time and include them in the pattern, not even in a beginner’s pattern.
Beginner’s patterns should, however, take into account that some stitches that go beyond the basics need to be explained in more detail. I also believe that beginners who’ve mastered the basic stitches can tackle anything beyond that. My first project back then was a sweater. What I do remember is that what really helped me was a diagram—just to get an idea of what the individual pieces were supposed to look like, because what does a novice know, right?
So, I expect more information in patterns for beginners than in a pattern that isn’t intended for beginners. And if a pattern isn’t suitable for beginners, that should be clearly stated—right in the product description, not just in the pattern itself.
Here’s a little tip for beginners: If you want to knit or crochet something that needs to fit exactly—where a few centimeters more or less really matters—and if a gauge is specified, it’s not just there for fun; it actually serves a purpose.

I’d also like to add that I agree with what Creatowl says about the individual steps—I think that’s a very important point. Everything should be presented step by step, exactly in the order in which it’s actually done.

In the beginning, you’re still pretty slow. That’s why I think you should start with small projects—otherwise, you might lose interest quickly. So start with small accessories or amigurumi.
Otherwise, as the previous commenters have written: make sure the instructions are well structured, include plenty of pictures, explain each step in detail, and don’t assume too much prior knowledge. Crochet charts and diagrams can also be confusing at first, just like too many abbreviations!

In addition to the points already mentioned, I also think it’s important to provide beginners with helpful tips. For example, how to achieve a clean color change, how to avoid holes when joining pieces with crochet, how to increase stitches in knitting without creating holes...
For amigurumi, you should specify the exact position of the eyes and whether they should be stuffed firmly or rather lightly with stuffing, since the stuffing is what actually gives the whole thing its shape. 

I also find it very helpful when it states exactly which yarn was used. And maybe offering a few suggestions for alternative yarns makes things much easier.

In my opinion, just a picture of the finished project (which I’ve already seen in the overview) isn’t enough either. Especially with knitted pieces, I also think it’s good if you get to see a picture of the back as well. It often looks quite different, so you can compare whether what you’ve made looks right. And perhaps a few tips that inexperienced people can really use, e.g. “if you knit very tightly, then it’s better to ...”