To that end: how do I start? I don’t want to make a massive investment in case I don’t stick with the hobby, but what would be a good robust investment that would allow me to continue should I choose to?

A pair of Boye circular needles, and some of the cheap pound of yarns. Should cost you under $20 US. Find a tutorial online, a book, however you learn the best, and just kinda go. Recommended first project is a scarf, because they very immediately show you if your tension is inconsistent.

Don’t worry too much about how you hold the yarn at first, however I would recommend learning continental as soon as you’re comfortable knitting, because repetitive stress injuries hurt more than you expect.

• I say circulars because if you do stick with it, I find circular needles far more comfortable to knit on straight needles, and they’re about the same price
• I say grab a pound because if you’re into knitting the yarn will last you a bit longer

One thing: is it possible to knit machine washable wear? That’s something about wool clothing that has always made me cautious: the fact that you can’t wash them. Blankets, sweaters, scarfs…is there a starter yarn that can be washed?

Most animal fibers aren’t machine washable, most plant fibers are, and a far as I’ve seen all synthetics are. Most cheap starter yarn is machine washable. Redheart/Lion/Caron acrylics all are, which is the cheapest yarn you’ll find, and most of what I’ve knitted with in the ~27 years I’ve been knitting.

Bonus tip: If you end up not being a huge fan of knitting, but still want to use the yarn for something, crochet might work for you, and crochet hooks are cheap. You can usually pick them up for under $5. Some people don’t do well knitting, but do well with crochet, and vice versa. Both starter projects tend to be scarves for tension reasons.