Just Started Knitting, So Excited Yet Confused

I just picked up knitting as a hobby and I'm totally hooked, but also completely lost. It's like my brain is trying to process this new language of yarn and sticks! Every time I look at YouTube tutorials or pick up those how-to books from the library, I get so excited because there are all these beautiful patterns out there. But then I start knitting something and it just looks... well, let's be honest, it looks like a tangled mess of string more than anything else. The other day I was watching this video on cable TV where they were talking about how knitters can knit while driving! And I remember thinking to myself, wow, that sounds like an amazing multitasking skill. But then I had to remind myself that knitting while driving is obviously not a good idea and would probably result in disaster for both the car and my new hobby. Anyway, back to reality. So here's what happened: yesterday afternoon, after failing to create even the simplest scarf pattern, I ended up making a rather unattractive, but oh-so-adorable, stuffed animal that looked like it had an extra arm or something! It's pretty funny when I look at it now, and my mom said she loves it too. She's always been supportive of all my new hobbies. Anyway, if anyone has any tips on how to improve as a knitter, let me know in the comments below! I'm eager to learn and make some beautiful things.