Learning to knit- what do I need?

So I have decided to learn to knit. Seren got a knitting kit for Christmas and she wants me to teach her - only I don't know how.
What size needles?
Which wool?
Any recommended books or websites?
It's all really confusing for me.

Thanks
Kim

[clothmama]

I'm a real beginner and haven't even done any for ages (really want to do more this year!) I'd say get some decent quality yarn in DK, I just bought some Stylecraft stuff which is quite a nice acrylic or you can fork out for some real wool. I know from learning / teaching crochet it is a nightmare with cheap and nasty yarn, I made that mistake in the beggining! I'm a tight knitter so I like to use 5mm needles and I really only use circular kneedles now as I find I'm less likely to get confused / drop stitches. When I re-taught myself (I'd knitted as a teenager) a couple of years ago I went to the local library and borrowed every knitting book they had. I decided to learn the continental style as some of the girls on here said that it is much quicker once you get the hang of it. I'm glad I did because as a crocheter it feels quite normal to hold my needles that way. Once I got going I used you tube to help, it is great because you can pause as you go when trying to learn a new stitch / technique in the way you can't do with a book! I'd say You Tube is the best way to learn if you don't have a handy knitting friend / mum / grandma!

@Kim

Thanks
I will get on youtube, I use it a lot for my balloon art, there seems to be a video for everything on there.

Kim

following with interest as I'm utter pants at knitting. I have all these good intentions of trying again, but always seem to pick up the crochet hook instead

There are excellent stitch tutorials on knitwitch

And quite a few of us on here could help if you get stuck

I will have to post a pic of my first attempt, a blanket for bob the builder using childrens needles and 'wool' that kept breaking. I did tell Seren it was supposed to be a funny shape, not sure if she believed me though.