If you’re having trouble getting started and don’t know any knitters to help you out, take a look at KnittingHelp, it has a great collection of free knitting videos to help get you started with the basics.
Once you know what you’re doing and you’re ready to move on to a pattern, click here for a list of common knitting abbreviations.
Stitch ‘n Bitch by Debbie Stoller is a great book for beginners and covers all the basics.
If you decide to take things more seriously, Vogue Knitting will teach you the rest.