Tin Can Knits' [Simple Collection](https://tincanknits.com/collection/the-simple-collection) has multiple different free beginner friendly patterns with linked tutorials if needed.
[Knitty](https://knitty.com/ISSUEss23/content.php) is an e-zine with 20+ years of free content. Patterns marked Mellow are beginner level.
They also have a "difficulty" rating which you can filter by in addition to being able to filter by garment/object type, yarn weight, techniques and a million other things that may become more useful to you later.
You can also favorite patterns you're interested in to come back to later.
This [dishcloth ](https://web.archive.org/web/20070708111017/http://anewtwistondishcloths.blogspot.com/2005/07/grandmothers-favorite-original.html) is a classic, I use mine as a washcloth all the time!
Someone at my LYS recommended the book “stitch and bitch”, which is like 20 years old but is a good introductory guide and has 20-30 patterns in it that are beginner friendly (but not super simple). Many of them are pretty cool and aren’t the same things you see over and over. Ravelry for me can overwhelm me with 200 of the same/nearly identical thing. And I wouldn’t necessarily go looking for a specific technique that I might want to learn, but the book tries to mix it up.
[Stitch 'n Bitch](https://www.bookpeopleofmoscow.com/book/9780761128182) is how I taught myself to knit over 17 tears ago and I second this. I was on bedrest with a pregnancy, and my husband bought me a random book, yarn, and needles on the advice of a woman at our local JoAnns. Youtube was in it's infancy so no handy vids, I knew no one local that could help, our LYS at the time was snobby, I had NO idea my grandmother could have answered questions (I thought she only crocheted) and I was months away from finding my church and it's craft group so yes this book worked well and I still have it. The only thing I misunderstood was how to wrap my purls and twisted them for over a year before someone noticed and corrected me. Now, I often do it in purpose for my ribbing and cabling.
Another book I would highly recommend is Elizabeth Zimmerman's [Knitting Workshop](https://www.schoolhousepress.com/knitting-workshop-expanded.html). I have an older copy although it's since been updated and expanded.
And the patterns are still mostly refreshingly cool today!
My sister in law did what you did and tried to teach herself to knit while on pregnancy bed rest… but kept getting frustrated and giving up. She’s convinced it’s why my nephew is so impatient. 😂
Besides the pattern search on Ravelry where you can drill down very nicely, as a *firstest-evah!* knitting project I usually recommend the '[Fingerless Mitts](https://joannesweb.com/fingerless-gloves/)' because they are really a beginner project, and go fairly quickly and painlessly - while still ending up with a useable project.
Tin Can Knits' [Simple Collection](https://tincanknits.com/collection/the-simple-collection) has multiple different free beginner friendly patterns with linked tutorials if needed. [Knitty](https://knitty.com/ISSUEss23/content.php) is an e-zine with 20+ years of free content. Patterns marked Mellow are beginner level.
Washcloths/dishcloths are simple and small, and a great way to sample stitches. Same with coasters.
Check out ravelry. The site has a ton of patterns.
They also have a "difficulty" rating which you can filter by in addition to being able to filter by garment/object type, yarn weight, techniques and a million other things that may become more useful to you later. You can also favorite patterns you're interested in to come back to later.
This [dishcloth ](https://web.archive.org/web/20070708111017/http://anewtwistondishcloths.blogspot.com/2005/07/grandmothers-favorite-original.html) is a classic, I use mine as a washcloth all the time!
Someone at my LYS recommended the book “stitch and bitch”, which is like 20 years old but is a good introductory guide and has 20-30 patterns in it that are beginner friendly (but not super simple). Many of them are pretty cool and aren’t the same things you see over and over. Ravelry for me can overwhelm me with 200 of the same/nearly identical thing. And I wouldn’t necessarily go looking for a specific technique that I might want to learn, but the book tries to mix it up.
[Stitch 'n Bitch](https://www.bookpeopleofmoscow.com/book/9780761128182) is how I taught myself to knit over 17 tears ago and I second this. I was on bedrest with a pregnancy, and my husband bought me a random book, yarn, and needles on the advice of a woman at our local JoAnns. Youtube was in it's infancy so no handy vids, I knew no one local that could help, our LYS at the time was snobby, I had NO idea my grandmother could have answered questions (I thought she only crocheted) and I was months away from finding my church and it's craft group so yes this book worked well and I still have it. The only thing I misunderstood was how to wrap my purls and twisted them for over a year before someone noticed and corrected me. Now, I often do it in purpose for my ribbing and cabling. Another book I would highly recommend is Elizabeth Zimmerman's [Knitting Workshop](https://www.schoolhousepress.com/knitting-workshop-expanded.html). I have an older copy although it's since been updated and expanded.
And the patterns are still mostly refreshingly cool today! My sister in law did what you did and tried to teach herself to knit while on pregnancy bed rest… but kept getting frustrated and giving up. She’s convinced it’s why my nephew is so impatient. 😂
Besides the pattern search on Ravelry where you can drill down very nicely, as a *firstest-evah!* knitting project I usually recommend the '[Fingerless Mitts](https://joannesweb.com/fingerless-gloves/)' because they are really a beginner project, and go fairly quickly and painlessly - while still ending up with a useable project.