Mel, I'd go buy a book or two because you'll want the pictures. You could be downloading and printing out directions forever and ever and ever if you try to do it from the 'net. You can find the info but you have to know what to look for and put it together piecemeal. At least, I would find it frustrating to do it that way.

Here are a few books I'd recommend:

Sally Melville's Knitting Experience Series starting with the Knit Stitch:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/189...lance&n=283155

Stitch & B**tch has some funky projects
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/076...lance&n=283155

Good basic book by Debbie Bliss with a more traditional theme
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/157...Fencoding=UTF8

Of course, a beginner's class at your local shop is great because they'll help you decipher the confusing world of needle size and type, yarn type, gauge, etc., etc., etc.