Considering you're new at sewing and you're having trouble with patterns, I'd suggest just starting off with some old fabric and learning about your sewing machine. Experience is the best way to go.

To use a pattern, you simple cut the actual pattern out. They're on thin pieces of paper - like tissue paper. Once you have the PAPER cut, you'll then need to pin a piece of fabric to the pattern (the paper cut-out). Pin as close to the edge as possible without ripping a gigantic line in the pattern. After pinning, simple take a pair of scissors and cut around the pattern, cutting the fabric of course. You'll then be ready to sew! If you're making clothes for animals or humans, I'd suggest cutting a little big until you get more experienced. If you don't have the fabric to cut a tad big, that's okay. Just be very careful. Before you sew, lay everything out so you know how you're going to need to sew.

Congrats on getting a new machine! I'd LOVE to have a sewing machine of my own. We have a few, but they're all too old to use. So, in the mean time, I'm stuck using my hands.