my first attempt to knit...

Ok ok i know this looks a little funky, It has a few "hole" type areas and as you see it's getting wider. It's supposed to be just the basic stitch, like to make a scarf, but um this is clearly not what is happening. Does anyone know what i'm doing wrong or any tips for a beginner? I only want to learn knitting so that i may knit an afghan, like that one my great-grandma made for my mom. It has been destroyed and tossed years ago, but i miss it early. It was knitted well but with ugly colors, though i still wish i had it bad, so i want to knit a few myself, to give and to use and one day my kids can have them and think of me.