Messy or uneven knitting is a common problem for new knitters. In most cases, it’ll improve with practice as you find a comfortable and consistent way to hold your yarn and maintain your tension. You may also produce messy-looking knitting if you’re inserting or exiting your needle incorrectly. If that’s the case, try to slow down and avoid catching the wrong stitch as you insert your needle, or picking up the wrong stitch from the row below. Often, blocking your knitting will also help to even out any issues and hide any small mistakes.