The best place for free patterns is on YouTube. I always use other sites such as LoveCrafts, Amigurumi Today, and Eryhana. Some blogs also have patterns, like this one. 

If you don't mind purchasing patterns, you can find even more on Etsy and Ravelry. 

I highly recommend Woobles kits. These kits come with yarn that is designed for beginners. It's a great starting point. 

These kits offer lots of cute, colorful animals. 

Be sure to see the Woobles logo before buying, as some kits may be off-brand copies. Off-brand versions can often make the learning process more frustrating, as they tend to have cheap yarn and unclear instructions. 

These are some yarn brands that I have bought and liked. 

The photo shows MainStays, Bernat, and I Love This Yarn.

I also recommend 24/7 Cotton and Red Heart. 

I judge yarn based on how much it splits apart and how easily it breaks. Most brands are good quality. 

You can buy yarn at craft stores, Amazon, or Walmart. 

How a skein (or ball) of yarn feels depends widely on the brand and fiber. Yarn can be made of 

• Synthetics: Acrylic, polyester

• Animal fiber: Wool, silk, alpaca, cashmere

• Plant fiber: Cotton, bamboo, linen

Acrylic is the most available type of yarn, but is not always soft. Acrylic is best for toys, charms, and accessories. 

Cotton and bamboo yarn are great for summer tops. 

Merino wool (or regular wool) is best for warm cardigans. Acrylic works well too, but it may be scratchy. You can avoid this by touching the yarn before purchasing. 

The weight of yarn typically refers to the size of the thread. This affects the size of your crochet hook. 

I find weight 4 yarn to be easiest to work with. Most yarn available in weight 4.

For fluffy animal toys, I like weight 6 yarn. 

Weight 2 yarn is very small, and is great for miniature objects.

The type of hook you buy does not matter. I typically buy plastic or metal hooks, because they are the cheapest. 

The size of the hook matters most. I typically use 4mm, 6mm, and 8mm hooks for most projects. They work well for toys, clothes, hair accessories, etc.

For keychains and charms, I would use a 2.5mm or 3mm hook.