You don't really need EE knowledge (the ability to create schematics) to do hobby stuff. You need reasonable tools, (soldering station, multimeter/measurement t

You don't really need EE knowledge (the ability to create schematics) to do hobby stuff. You need reasonable tools, (soldering station, multimeter/measurement tool, snips, stripper, tweezers, light and some sort of work holding solution) the ability to read an electrical schematic/match symbols with components, the ability to fully utilize a multimeter (audible continuity anyone) and physical practice. Eventually you may need to operate a very simple CAD program, but this is a last step, not a first. Once you get making, a 3D printer and associated skills can be nice for making enclosures for your projects. Start by looking up schematics for basic fun stuff like DIY audio amplifiers or start even simpler with a joule thief. Read the schematic, translate the symbology into a bill of materials, figure out how to buy your bill of materials from digikey/mouser/amazon and then get to work stitching the pattern together on a solder-able protoboard. It will look like crap at first and probably sound like crap if you made an amp, but at least it will work. Keep doing this and you will gradually build up a stash of 'homie knowledge' similar to 'but if I plug this circuit into this circuit, something cool happens'. Eventually you will have enough knowledge that you can solve some basic problems by building familiar circuit patterns from schematic/memory and tying them together in useful ways. As you practice more, your soldering and protoboard construction will get cleaner and your wire routing will likely improve. This is generally works by the magic of OCD. Eventually, you will get frustrated by the limitations of protoboards and jumper wires. You will want your wiring to be perfect. At this point, you should start messing around with PCB layouts. This is basically just etching wires on a non-conductive substrate. I would recommend starting simple and using a copper sticker and craft knife. Once you get the idea from practical experience, you can find a free PCB layout software tool and start laying out your wires in CAD and having the result fabricated via OSHpark or someone similar. Congratulations, you are now a level 4+ electronics hobbyist.