A really good site for photos and tutorials of some good patterns is;
www.troutflies.com Check 'er out.
When you start, focus on a few patterns you really use. Everyone says that you should start tying nymphs, and these are easier and more affordable. But if you use a LOT of Adams or Royal Coachmans, I would learn these as well.
As far as materials, I would get sized hackles. That is, the Whiting 100's pack or Metz does something just like it. That way, you are buying just what you need to use. One day you will know and tye enough patterns to use up a whole cape, but it could be years and years. In the mean time, don't spend money on "scrap loss"
Some cheap and easy patterns for beginning fly tyers that really work:
The Usual (in all kinds of colors besides the traditional, i.e. rusty spinner is awesome, just changed the body to a dubbed rusty spinner color)
Ants (in all sizes)
Beetles (in all sizes and many colors)
Griffith's Gnats
Mickey Finns
Wooleybuggers
Pheasant Tails
Zug bugs
Well, the list goes on. And it's the simplest patterns that catch the most.
One tip for beginning fly tyer. Start your thread and pull on it until it breaks. Get a feel for how hard you can pull before it snaps. You should be tying just short of that pressure. Tight! Really tight! The tighter your flies, and the sparser you tie them the more fish you will catch with them and the longer they will last. The sparse thing is just as important. A fly can float with three winds of hackles, and if you tye a fly with three winds you'll catch twice as many fish as one with six. Light can pass through the sparser winds and that looks like motion. Your flies will look alive. The difference between a sparse hackle and thick one is like hair and helmet. Mayflies don't wear helmets.
I don't think a tool "set" is so bad, but buy a quality set. You want tools made of good metals so they'll hold an edge and stay tight. Scissors that dull quickly or come loose will drive you nuts. And tying is a hobby, you want to enjoy it. Quality tools and materials will add to the enjoyment of making flies and to their effectiveness as well. I would go to a shop and look at the tools, hold them in your hands and feel them. You'll know if they are worthwhile when you see them. That said, the best tying scissors I ever used were a pair of craft scissors for seamstresses.
Much like these
If you are new to flyfishing, you may want to hold off on learning to tye. Learning to flyfish can be kind of frustrating and tying is another cliff to jump off. But that's a personal decision if you are up for going up two learning curves at the same time, more power to ya. I waited a couple years, but it's up to you. Good luck!
