One of the fun parts about knitting is all the different tools you need (and those you don't need!) to be successful. At its most basic you simply need knitting needles and yarn, but there are other tools that are very handy to have, whether you're a new knitter or more seasoned.
Even a small bag can hold a lot of knitting supplies, (c) Sarah E. White.When first starting out, it's important to pick yarn and needles that you will enjoy using. Of course you don't really know what you'll enjoy until you've tried a few things out, but the main point is don't just go into any discount chain store, buy whatever yarn and needles are there and try to learn with them. You'll probably end up not liking the yarn and won't enjoy the experience of knitting.
Instead, unless you have a sensitivity to wool, I like to recommend using wool yarn for new knitters. There's lots of great wool yarn that isn't scratchy or too expensive, and you'll enjoy the experience a lot more than you might with some other kinds of yarns. (For those who are sensitive or can't find wool yarn where they live, I recommend a good-quality acrylic, by which I mean one that feels nice to your hands.)
You'll want to try a lot of different knitting needles to find the ones you're happiest with. Many people start with plain old aluminum needles, mostly because they're cheap and available everywhere. I like bamboo needles for beginners and beyond because they're warm, strong, relatively inexpensive and widely available.
Other tools you will need include scissors, a yarn needle, a crochet hook for fixing mistakes, and a bag to keep your project and tools in. Over time you'll want to build up your knitting tool bag with other essentials like cable needles, stitch holders and maybe a little notebook to keep notes on your pattern, but all of that will come with time and necessity.
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