Craft Blog

Are you interested in learning how to knit? Have you always thought about knitting because you have seen it done? Are you looking for a way to make things that don’t require super artistic talent? Perhaps your grandmother or mother used to knit and she always tried to teach you but you never had the time. Whatever the situation is, it is never too late to learn how to knit. One of the best things about knitting is that you are never too old to learn how to knit. And once you start knitting you might discover how relaxing it is. And probably the best thing of all is how many different things you can knit. Where you can go to learn how to knit depends a lot on how you are able to learn. For example if you can teach yourself without the aid of a teacher than you should be able to learn from books, video or the internet, but if you need to have someone walking you through the steps than you would want to take a class or learn from a friend.

So if you are interested in learning how to knit here are some places that you can go to learn how to knit.

Tip one:
One of the best places that you can go to learn how to knit is to friends or family members that already knit. By learning from somebody you know you are going to be in a relaxed environment and you can get first hand knowledge from watching them knit, as well as getting instructions in a one on one setting. Sometimes learning in a group is harder than learning by yourself, but you will still have the benefit from their experience.

Tip two:
Another way that you can learn how to knit is through books. You can go to book stores, craft stores, fabric stores, libraries, or any other place that sells books on knitting and buy books that can teach you how to knit. By using books you can read about all of the steps involved in knitting, look at diagrams on how it is done and obtain free patterns so that you can practice. And you are not limited to only using books, many times you can find knitting magazines that will teach you how to knit. But the bad thing about learning from a book is that you don’t have the benefit of asking people questions about what you should be doing, nor do you get to learn their tips and tricks.

Tip three:
Another way to learn how to knit is through the use of instructional videos. These are a great way to help you learn how to knit because you can stop and rewind the video at any point until you understand the concept or until you master the skill. You can also benefit from watching the people show you the steps and the proper way to hold the needles, etc. But again you don’t have the benefit of being able to ask questions.

Tip four:
Another place to go to learn how to knit is to a knitting class. You can take classes in knitting from craft stores or fabric stores, as well as community colleges or adult schools. These classes are also offered in different levels so if you are a beginner you can take a beginning class and then you can move up as you see fit. You can also take specialty classes that will give you tips and tricks on knitting with specialty types of yarn and needles.

Tip five:
Like everything else in our world today you can also learn how to knit on the internet. There are a variety of websites on the internet that offer step by step instructions on how to knit. These websites also include instructional videos that you can download, as well as reading material to help you learn.

ybody loves to receive stuff for free and people who knit aren’t any different. In fact if you do knitting for a hobby or as a relaxation technique you are probably always on the look out for new knitting patterns. Some of your best resources to find knitting patterns are through magazine subscriptions, there are numerous magazines that are dedicated to the world of knitting, or you can attend knitting classes for a small registration fee. But if you don’t want to spend money on obtaining knitting patterns the good news is that there are ways to get the ideas for free.

Here are some tips on where to find free knitting patterns.

Tip one:
One of the best places to find knitting patterns for free is online through the use of search engines. The internet is a great resource when it comes to looking for any type of knitting pattern. There are numerous websites that offer free knitting patterns for every age and for every level of knitting, whether you are a beginner or an expert. All you need to do to find these websites is to type in "free knitting patterns" into a search engine and you will get back thousands of results. Some websites might require you to register with their website for free (meaning no paid dues or memberships) in order to access their information, but it could be worth it.

Tip two:
Another great place to find free knitting patterns is on television. There are numerous day time television shows that offer craft segments or that dedicates their entire show to a variety of different craft ideas, including knitting. You can usually get the instructions and supplies that you will need from the television show directly.  Since with knitting there can be a pattern involved in order to get the pattern you will probably have two choices: you can mail in a request or you can print the pattern from the television or craft shows website. Some craft shows will show you what they are knitting, but not provide a pattern, these are usually for more advanced knitters but some times beginners can also pick these up and draw their own patterns.

Tip three:
Another great place to find free knitting patterns is at your local fabric or craft stores. Many times they will have fliers that offer classes (sometimes these classes are for free) that will teach you how to knit or provide lessons for learning a new knitting technique and these classes most of the time will provide you with free patterns. Or you can find other people to talk to inside the stores who are as interested in knitting as you are and you can exchange patterns, you can also do this with family members who are interested in knitting. Often times craft stores will put out a calendar that offers a list of the classes that they will be having that month, and some of them include free instructions. But keep in mind that not all of your craft or fabric stores will do this.

Tip five:
If you don’t currently have a subscription to a crafting (these will sometimes include knitting patterns so don’t count them out) or knitting magazine you can still find out what is inside the issue. One of the best places to go to read and look at magazines thoroughly is the library; they will even let you photocopy the pages you need. But the best thing about libraries is in addition to the magazines they also carry numerous books on the subject. Libraries will also carry books that include patterns for knitting; the pattern books will be available for a variety of different levels. You can also find books at the library that teach you the different tips and tricks on knitting.

One of the great things about knitting is that there are so many different things that you can knit. One of the reasons why you can knit so many different things is because of the variety of yarns that are available. Yarns come in a variety of fibers, such as cotton, wool, etc. But you can also get yarn in a variety of different weights, not to mention the vast amount of colors that are available when it comes to yarn. And the best news is if you can’t find the color that you are looking for you can always dye your own type of yarn.

Here are some different kinds of things that you can knit.

Scarves:
This is one of the first things that people learn how to knit because it gives them practice on how to knit and there isn’t much turning to a scarf. You simply have to knit in a straight row. This item will allow you to master the basic knitting stitch so that you can move on to other objects. Not to mention the fact that scarves a great gift to give to people who live in colder climates, and if you knit it out of wool you can stay really warm on those cold nights.

Sweaters:
This is another great thing, knitted sweaters are a popular item among certain groups of people, such as the baby boomers. These sweaters always look elegant and they also keep you warm. Once you get really good at knitting you can even add designs in the middle of the sweater or knit a series of designs into the sweater.

Handbags:
While not many people carry hand bags you can still knit them to carry your knitting stuff in. Or you can knit on that matches your sweaters. Handbags are not as easy as scarves, but they are not as difficult as sweaters either. You don’t have as many rounded seams on a handbag and you can make it any size you wish. Another great thing to knit along with a hand bag is a small coin purse that matches.

Doilies:
Those cute little things that you put underneath your plants to help keep your wood tables from getting water damaged can also be knitted. Most people use other techniques to make these items, but you can also knit them using any type of fiber, but they tend to turn out better if you knit them using a cotton yarn that is super fine.

Baby items:
Another popular thing to do is to knit baby items. You can knit booties, mittens, sweaters, pants, dresses, and even teddy bears. The possibilities are endless with what you can do for a baby with knitting. And the best thing is that babies are smaller so you don’t have the huge arms and legs to work with when doing your seams. A thing to keep in mind when knitting things for a baby you want to use yarn that is super fine so that is nice and soft next to the baby’s skin.

Afghans:
These are really popular because they are just a bigger version of a scarf. The great thing about these is that they are perfect to cover your legs in the winter or the summer (if the air conditioning gets to cold). Most people tend to drape these over the backs of couches or chairs as a decoration as well.

When it comes to knitting the possibilities are endless. Basically you can knit almost anything from things you wear to decorations for your house.

No matter what level you are at in knitting you still don’t know everything that you need to know about knitting. Many times people learn secrets and tips from other knitters that can enhance their own knitting projects. So whether you are a beginning knitter or an advanced knitter here are some tips on knitting that you might find helpful.

Tip one:
Something that some people might not know about knitting is that you can combine yarns to get different weights. For example if you need a sport weight yarn you could combine two fingering yarns. Or if you need a worsted weight yarn you could combine two sport yarns. Or if you needed a bulky yarn what you would need to do would be to combine two worsted weight yarns. But you want to make sure that you always check your gauge. Otherwise this is a great way to use up extra yarns you have.

Tip two:
Another good tip is when you are sewing buttons on your garments that have been knitted, you should use elastic thread, rather than yarn. You can purchase the elastic thread at that same fabric stores that you buy your knitting supplies at. By using elastic thread instead of yarn your buttons won’t pull on the knitted fabric or cut the yarn after you have worn the items several times, basically elastic thread makes the button more durable for longer use.

Tip three:
Another good idea is to put plastic or rubber knitting needle points on the tips of your scissors so that you don’t accidentally ruin other things in your bag. You never know when your scissors might accidentally open and cut through a piece of yarn you have been working with, or snag that new baby blanket causing it to pull and tear.

Tip four:
Rather than using moth balls, which can stink or cause your wool to have an unpleasant smell you can use small chunks of Irish Spring Bath soap to help keep the moths away. Not only will it help keep the moths away it will also leave your wool smelling fresh and clean.

Tip five:
Rather than binding off you should leave your shoulder stitches on needles or stitch holders. Once you have completed both the back and front of the item you should knit the two sides together and bind off at the shoulder seam. By doing this you are ensuring that your seam is smooth and flat.

Tip six:
Once you have started to run out of yarn you are going to have to introduce a new ball of yarn to your project, the ball of yarn is known as a skein of yarn. But when joining the new ball of yarn to the old ball of yarn you should knit at least three stitches using both the end of the old ball of yarn and the beginning of the new ball of yarn. After you have done at least three stitches you need to drop the old ball of yarn, meaning you don’t use it anymore, and continue on with the new ball of yarn.

Tip seven:
Another thing to keep in mind is that if you are knitting a stockinette pattern you should put something like a place holder ring or you should tie a piece of yarn to one of the needles to mark your place. This way when the needle with the marker is on is empty and you are starting a new row you will know exactly what stitch you should be using.

Knitting can be a fun way to do something productive and make something cool while also relaxing and having fun.  Knitting for friends and family is always a great way to give a gift that they’ll love and you’ll enjoy creating.  Another great way to use knitting is making clothing and accessories for dolls, or even making the dolls themselves.  So here are a few tip sand suggestions about what you should know when knitting for dolls. 

The best thing about knitting for dolls is that if you already know how to knit, learning to knit for dolls should be a piece of cake.  All you have to do is find some patterns for your dolls and then start knitting.  Naturally, everything you knit for dolls will be smaller, requiring smaller needles and probably a finer yarn.  But everything else- the stitch, the method, the colors.it’s all the same, making it extra easy for you to learn.  So now that you know that knitting for dolls is easy and fun, let’s go over a few questions that you might have about knitting in general. 

1. What should I know about yarn? 
First, you should be sure to read the label on the yarn.  It will help you select the type of yarn you want and the number of skeins you need for a project.  It should include the yarn brand name, fiber content, color name and number, dye lot number, plies (number of strands), weight classification, ounces or grams or meters, knitting gauge, and home laundering and dry cleaning instructions.   You should also know your yarn’s weight classification, which refers to the size (diameter) of the yarn. "Yarn weight classification" is a number and/or name assigned to yarn in the following designations:
 1 or Super Fine
 2 or Fine
 3 or Light
 4 or Medium
 5 or Bulky 
 6 or Super Bulky

2. What are double point and circular knitting needles used for?
Double point knitting needles come in sets of four or five and are used to make smaller round pieces such as cuffs, socks and mittens. Circular knitting needles come in various lengths and sizes, and are used for larger round sections such as sleeves, collars, and the body of a sweater.

3. What is "gauge" and how is it determined?
Gauge is the number of stitches and rows in every inch of knitting.  Each pattern you use should have a required gauge listed in order to determine the finished size of the project.  It is very important that you make a gauge swatch and match it with the gauge specified in the project pattern because everyone knits differently. 

4. How do I cast on?
Make a slip knot on the needle about two yards from the end of the yarn. (This amount varies according to the number of stitches to be cast on, but always allow plenty!) Holding needle in right hand, loop end of yarn around left thumb and hold it in the left palm. Insert tip of needle into loop on thumb, pass yarn leading to the ball around needle from back to front, draw yarn through loop. Slip loop off thumb and tighten stitch thus formed on needle.

5. How to I purl knit?
Holding needle with stitches in your left hand and second needle in your right, with yarn at front insert tip of right-hand needle into first stitch from right to left, back to front. With right hand, pass yarn over and under tip of right-hand needle, draw yarn through stitch, and slip stitch just worked in off left-hand needle.

6. How do I cast off?
(1) Work the first two stitches as you would in a regular pattern row.  (2) Then, insert tip of left-hand needle from left to right into first stitch worked.  (3) Pass first stitch over second stitch and off right-hand needle. Work the next stitch and repeat from (2)

Everyone loves hand-made handiwork.  Knit sweaters, caps, mittens, and other items are especially popular.  So if you have a talent for knitting, you may have considered selling your knitting for a small profit.  But where do you begin?  How do you take something that began as an enjoyable hobby and turn it into a small business?  Well, you’ve come to the right place.  This article will hopefully teach you a bit about how to make the best use of your knitting and sell it in all the right places.

One of the best places to sell your knitting is at craft shows.  Craft shows occur throughout the year, all over the country.  If you’re really serious about selling your knitting, this may be a good option for you.  Here are some suggestions if you’re thinking of selling your knitting at craft shows.
 Be organized. Several weeks or months before the craft show, you should make sure that your booth and other fees are paid in full.  Also, make sure that you’ve received all the promo literature.  Makes lists of what you need to finished before the craft show, your current inventory, sale prices for all of your goods, and what you’ll need to take with you for the show (business cards, brochures, markers, pens, notebook, etc.)
 Make your display artistically appealing. Make it colorful, but easy on the eyes, and easy for people to take it all in. Do a ‘dry run’ of your table display or booth at home before the show and have your friends and neighbors tell you what they think of it so you can work out any glitches ahead of time. And take pictures of it, so you’ll remember how it worked on the mornings of your craft show so that you can be ready if you’re in a hurry.  Before the doors open to your craft shows, stand back and look carefully and critically at your booth as if you were a customer, and make the time to change anything that isn’t ‘right.’ Also, remember that the purpose of your booth is to sell your knitting, so it should be displayed full force.
 Try to get names, email addresses, and/or phone numbers of your customers, so that you can build up some kind of base for sales.  A good way to do this is to plan some kind of contest or drawing so that folks who visit your booth have to fill out some personal information.
 It’s a good idea to be standing up and looking around once the doors open – it shows that you are interested in perspective customers as they come along. But it’s also a good idea to be knitting, too, so that you are effectively demonstrating your craft.
 Remember to smile.  Be friendly and helpful, including when people make comments like, "Oh, I could make it myself cheaper than that!" If they could, they would and then they wouldn’t be traipsing around craft shows looking to buy products like yours!

Another great place to sell your knitting is online.  You can join a "craft room," where many people display and sell their knitting all together, or you can simply make your own website where you can sell your wares.  This is a great option because then you don’t have to haul all your knitting around with you.  If you decide to create a website to sell your knitting, it’s important that you remember to put up pictures of each product.  Also, be sure to put an accurate description of the product, its care requirements and anything else unique about it.  Then you’ll be in business!

Knitting is a very relaxing and soothing hobby.  It can also be very useful since you can learn to make your own scarves, hats, socks, sweaters, and even bags, all from yarn.  This article will tell you a little about knitting in general, as well as inform you on how to design your own knit patterns. 

The best way to design your own knit patterns is to start by getting good at some pre-made patterns first.  After you’ve become a pro at reading patterns, start designing your own by making a rough sketch of what you want to knit.  Then, if it’s an article of clothing, measure the person who is going to be wearing the piece.  Then take your yarn and needles and knit a swatch in your chosen knitting stitch pattern.  Now measure your swatch for gauge and you’re reading to make some simple calculations to get the right fit.  You can also find computer programs, such as knitPro that allow you to upload certain measurements and yarn type and then let you produce your own design of a pattern.  But until you’re really a pro, it is not recommended that you attempt to design your own knit pattern. 

Now, here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about knitting: 

 What information should I look for on the yarn label?
The information on the yarn label will help you select the type of yarn you want and the number of skeins you need for a project.  It should include the yarn brand name, fiber content, color name and number, dye lot number, plies (number of strands), weight classification, ounces or grams or meters, knitting gauge, and home laundering and dry cleaning instructions.  
 What are double point and circular knitting needles used for?
Double point and circular needles are different from straight knitting needles and are used for seamless knitting or "knitting-in-the-round." Double point knitting needles come in sets of four or five and are used to make smaller round pieces such as cuffs, socks and mittens. Circular knitting needles come in various lengths and sizes, and are used for larger round sections such as sleeves, collars, and the body of a sweater. Circular knitting needles may also be used for knitting back and forth.  The size on knitting needle required for a project is specified in the project instructions.
 What is "gauge" and how is it determined?
Gauge is the number of stitches and rows in every inch of knitting.  Each pattern you use should have a required gauge listed in order to determine the finished size of the project.  It is very important that you make a gauge swatch and match it with the gauge specified in the project pattern because everyone knits differently.  You may find that if you knit loosely, you may have to use a needle or hook smaller than the pattern specifies. Or if you knit tightly, you may need to use a needle or hook larger than the pattern specifies.
 What does yarn weight mean?
Yarn weight is described in five basic categories:
 Baby/fingering
 Sport/baby
 Worsted weight
 Chunky
 Bulky
Each of these has a different thickness, and if you were to have equal lengths of them they would all generally weigh more or less than the other, which is the "weight". Fingering is the finest. The term "ply," means to the number of smaller strands that were spun together to form the yarn. Yarn is made of different things, synthetic, natural, and even metallic. That is the "fiber content". Weight, ply, and fiber content are almost always found on the label wrapped around skeins or attached to balls.

Knitting is a fun and relaxing hobby.  But if you’re just starting out, you may have quite a few questions about the specific of knitting.  Luckily, this article will hopefully answer a few frequently asked questions that you might have about knitting.  So keep reading and get your needles ready!

1. What information should I look for on the yarn label?
The information on the yarn label will help you select the type of yarn you want and the number of skeins you need for a project.  It should include the yarn brand name, fiber content, color name and number, dye lot number, plies (number of strands), weight classification, ounces or grams or meters, knitting gauge, and home laundering and dry cleaning instructions.  

2. What is meant by "Yarn Weight Classifications?"
The "yarn weight classification" refers to the size (diameter) of the yarn. The "yarn weight" required for a project and the amount of yarn needed to complete a project is specified in the project instructions. "Yarn weight classification" is a number and/or name assigned to yarn in the following designations:
1 or Super Fine (sock, baby and fingering yarn)
2 or Fine (baby and sport yarn)
3 or Light (light worsted and DK yarn)
4 or Medium (worsted, afghan and Aran yarn)
5 or Bulky (chunky, craft and rug yarn)
6 or Super Bulky (roving and bulky yarn)

3. What are double point and circular knitting needles used for?
Double point and circular needles are different from straight knitting needles and are used for seamless knitting or "knitting-in-the-round." Double point knitting needles come in sets of four or five and are used to make smaller round pieces such as cuffs, socks and mittens. Circular knitting needles come in various lengths and sizes, and are used for larger round sections such as sleeves, collars, and the body of a sweater. Circular knitting needles may also be used for knitting back and forth.  The size on knitting needle required for a project is specified in the project instructions.

4. What is "gauge" and how is it determined?
Gauge is the number of stitches and rows in every inch of knitting.  Each pattern you use should have a required gauge listed in order to determine the finished size of the project.  It is very important that you make a gauge swatch and match it with the gauge specified in the project pattern because everyone knits differently.  You may find that if you knit loosely, you may have to use a needle or hook smaller than the pattern specifies. Or if you knit tightly, you may need to use a needle or hook larger than the pattern specifies. It doesn’t matter what size needle or hook you use as long as your gauge swatch has the same number of stitches and rows per inch as specified in the pattern.

5. What is the best way to launder projects made from yarn?
The first step is to check the laundering instructions on the yarn label. This will tell you whether to machine wash and dry or hand launder and dry flat. Even if the yarn label indicates that you may machine wash and dry, remember that you are caring for a hand made item. It is recommended that delicate items be washed in a mesh laundry bag or pillow case and that you wash your hand made items separately from your other laundry.

6. Where can I get help when I have yarn questions?
In the yarn department you will find numerous yarn books that will be helpful. You can also find information at the following websites: www.learntoknit.com, www.learntocrochet.com, www.knit911.com, www.crochet911.com, and www.craftyarncouncil.com.

If you have never walked into a craft store to purchase yarn then you probably have no idea how many different types of yarn there are available. Most craft stores carry shelves and shelves full of yarn, so sometimes trying to pick the right yarn for your knitting project can be a rather gruesome experience. Because of how many different types of yarns are available to choose from many people tend to buy the exact type of yarn that is listed in the instructions for their knitting pattern. But the good news is that if you know some basic facts about yarn you can choose different yarns, yarns you want to use, for any of your knitting projects.

Yarn weight system:
Basically what yarn weight refers to is the thickness of the yarn and it can range from super fine to super bulky. Currently there are six different categories of yarn weights and each weight should produce a certain number of stitches when you are using a certain sized needle. Basically the higher the number the heavier your yarn is going to be and you will get fewer stitches per inch.

The yarn weights are:
 1: Super fine – the yarns in this weight are baby, fingering and sock. The needle size used for this weight would be between a 1 and a 3 and you can usually get 27 to 32 stitches per 4 inches.
 2: Fine – the yarns in this weight are baby and sport. The needle size for this weight would be between a 3 and a 5 and you would get about 23 to 26 stitches per 4 inches.
 3: Light – the yarns in this weight would be DK, light, and worsted. The needle size for this weight would be between a 5 and a 7 and you would get about 16 to 20 stitches per 4 inches.
 4: Medium – the yarns in this weight would be Afghan, aran and worsted. The needle size that would be used for this weight would be between a 7 and a 9 and you could get between 16 to 20 stitches per 4 inches.
 5: Bulky – the yarns in this weight would be chunky, craft and rug. The needle sizes that you could use for this weight would be between 9 and an 11 and you could get about 12 to 15 stitches per four inches.
 6: Super bulky – the yarns in this weight would be bulky and roving. The needle sizes that you could use with this type of yarn would be from an 11 or anything bigger than that and you would be able to get anywhere from 6 to 11 stitches per 4 inches.

In order to choose the right type of yarn for your knitting project you are going to need to know about the different weight yarns or the gauge of the yarn. The gauge is the number of stitches and rows per inch that the designer obtained when they worked the pattern. Having this information will allow you to choose different yearn than what is recommended because you can choose the right type of yarn.

But another thing that you need to know about when choosing the right type of yarn is making sure that you find the right fiber. There are numerous types of yarn and you are going to want to use a yarn that is the right fiber for your project. Here is some information on the two most popular yarn fibers.
 Cotton – is a good choice for light, breathable, and/or utilitarian items, but can be hard to work with because of its inelasticity
 Wool – this is one of the best types of knitting yarns because of its naturalness, the wide variety of colors and textures available and how easy it is to work with. It can also be used in projects that are for either winter or summer because the wool is full of air which makes it warm in the winter and keeps heat out during the summer.

Just keep in mind that the best way to choose your yarn is to choose the yarn that is best for the project you are working on, most of the times patterns will include what type of yarn you will need, but you can still substitute if you know what you are doing.

Often times when you are new at knitting, you are a little nervous about their first projects. The main thing to remember is that you are doing this for fun. In addition, that most likely the item you make will not come out perfect. So, all and all, you will want to choose something fun and something that will not be too difficult.

The last thing you want to do is to abandon your want to learn to knit forever because you chose a project that was too difficult.

Many simple patterns can be gotten off the Internet, at your hometown craft store, from your favorite craft or knitting magazine or your best friend. Here is a list of some fun places on the Internet that have free patterns with good instructions for you to use.

•    About.com, their site has some simple knitting patterns with good instruction.

•    Frugal Knitting Haus Free Patterns, this site has several beginners’ patterns and update with new patterns often.

•    LIVE journal, this site has great beginner patterns for people knitting for babies.

•    ukhandknitting.com, this site has beautiful patterns for shawls. They also have excellent instructions.

•    Crochetandknitting.com, this site has many crochet and knitting patterns for beginners free.

•    ebay, this site has many patterns for reduced prices.

•    Crochetpatterncentral.com, this site has a wide variety of patterns and visitors.

This is just a sample of the web sites you can find on the Internet for patterns for beginners.

You have the option of CDROMS that you can purchase online, or at the store.
Interactive CDROMS:
COATS & CLARK
CD101    Coats Crochet Made Easy
CD102    Knitting Made Easy

Another option is that you can check into local stores in your area. Wal-Mart, K-mart, and other local craft and hobby stores. You can find the options in your yellow pages under yarn.

You can look around for a class. Classes, which will come with patterns, are located at your libraries, craft stores, local high schools or adult education classes. This will also give you an opportunity to see other techniques and have support as you are trying this wonderful new craft.

You can also check out the clubs for knitting and crochet in your area. National Guilds sponsor national and regional conferences that offer interesting class programs, exhibits, fashion shows and consumer shows, offering still more opportunities to learn more about crocheting and knitting.

There are many beginner-knitting kits available also. Many online stores have several beginners knitting kits that appear to have everything a beginner knitter would need.
Learn how to kits:
COATS & CLARK
K1402    Knitting Made Easy

You can purchase instructional books with patterns in them for around $20-30. They can be purchased online on the Internet, from a bookstore, Wal-Mart or other chain stores, or craft and fabric stores.

Instructional books:

COATS & CLARK
J14-1401    Learn How Book
J14-1402    Knitting Made Easy
J14-1403    Crochet Made Easy
ASN PUBLISHING
1146 Learn to Crochet in Just One Day
1147 Learn to Crochet in Just One Day (Left-Handed)
1210 Learn to Knit
1273 Learn to Knit Socks
5101 First Steps in Crocheting
5102 First Steps in Knitting

Whatever pattern you choose, wherever you get the pattern, remember not to lose hope, have a good time and enjoy yourself. Knitting is fun!