"warren,
are you thinking of the "tie a fly" kits??
http://www.tie-a-fly.com/choosepatterns.htm"
Normand,
Yes, that is exactly what I was recommending. I think these are fantastic for beginners. It not only teachs how to tie a pattern, but, you get to see what hooks and material you need so that you do not end up with material you will never use.