There are so many knitting patterns available at no cost; there is really no need to ever pay for one. Yarn skeins are the first place to look. Every skein of yarn comes with a wrapper, and almost all of them will have a pattern on it using that yarn. This is a good place for beginners to start because you will automatically have the correct yarn for the pattern. All you have to do is get the recommended needles, and there is no guesswork involved.
The Internet is a vast, unending resource when it comes to knitting patterns. Do a search and you will come up with more patterns than you could ever use in a lifetime.
Knitting books and magazines are great resources if you want some helpful information to go along with your pattern. Books will give you step-by-step instructions, along with a general knitting overview. Magazines are fun for seeing what’s new and trendy in knitting and catching up on the latest products and yarns.