How do I get better equipment
I'm new at this game and I don't understand how anything works because I never read cutscenes and information from advice characters. All I know how to do is use the forge thing and use fireballs to level up my armor and weapons. But I don't know how to make new and better ones or get different weapons from the green ones they give you at the beginning
I also don't know anything else but I'm taking it one step at a time ya feel

Specifically the missions to redo are
* 2-2: Alchemy for Beginners
* 2-2: Time to Get Crafty
* 4-1: Advanced Alchemy
You could also just read the wiki page Crafting.
I just got to 2-2 in story mode I didn't get to far yet. I think I get it now, just wondering though I can use alchemy stations to make new armor right? I was able to make a fire sword and a snow blaster

If you'd read literally the first sentence in the wiki page Bopp linked, you'd know the answer to that question.

replay EVERY mission, and read the "Cutscenes", or you will be disadvantaged.

I never read cutscenes and information from advice characters
Which is why you read cutscenes and information from advice characters, so you don't have to ask people on the forums.
Replay and read every cutscene and message from every character. Make another knight to redo the crash site and the first 4 missions if you have to.

Shift z will do shield bash, in case you didn't read that either... If that didn't work, try shift left click. Also, x shift will do a shield jump. I that does not work, do right click shift. It all depends on the controls you are using. Also; you need the down-grades of weapons to alchemize better ones.

He said nothing about needing to know how to shield bash and dodge. He also doesn't need to know the requirements for alchemy - He needs to know how to craft stuff at all.

Use the Alchemy Machine. Get the materials needed. Click "Transmute". That is pretty much it.
thanks guys. i reconfigured my controls entirely, so space is shield, and q and e are used to toggle between weapons. works well since valve games also use the q key to toggle between weapons i think

None of that helps you get better equipment, but I'm glad that you're happy.
Go back and read all the cutscenes..... you can go replay missions and be sure to read everything you can.