whether something felts in the wash is down to the fibres, and not the way items are knitted. superwash wool can be stuck in the wash without felting, but it'll still last longer and the colours will stay brighter if handwashed.

there are a lot of kits you can get in knitting shops that include a pattern and the right gauge & amount of yarn, and the kits will specify which ones are suitable for beginners, so they're great starting points. some (but not all) will include needles, so check the back of the kit to see whether you need to get them separately. beyond that, just pick the kit where you'd actually like/wear the finished product!

patterns can be a bit daunting to follow at first, so i recommend also looking at youtube tutorials as you go, so you can see videos of how each stitch is done, rather than trying to figure it out from a description/illustration. there are endless knitting youtube tutorials, you'll find something for everything from casting on, right up to repairing once you've worn an item so much that it's gained a hole in it.

best of luck with starting out! i hope you enjoy it, whether you decide to stick with knitting or just try out one project! :)