Never give up. We all start knowing nothing or very little. We gain knowledge by trying new things. The ladies in your group started where you did and learned by making mistakes and using their thread rippers just like you are. Your quilt will turn out beautifully. Your quilt may not be show quality but it will be something you will look at later and be proud that you persisted and have this wonderful beautiful first piece of art. I guarantee that it will turn out better then you now think it will. I just finished my first quilt without a pattern I really thought it was going to be terrible but I'm proud of it and my grandson won't notice that everything isn't straight, he will only know that his grandma put her love and heart in a quilt for him. Put your heart in it. Don't worry about what someone else thinks or what they are doing.
Hugs Mia