Brett. Yes, constellations can be tricky, and you will never know every single one, but as long as you know where a few of the main ones are.
Some shapes are easier than others, thank goodness - Crux and Cenataurus are easy, but many others in the south can be trickier, but all you need is a good star chart. Stand there looking up at the constellation, then to your chart (with red torch), then neighbouring bright stars. It all takes time, so try not to worry.
Sagittarius is also tricky, and I still have trouble with it after > 20 years observing.
You know that it is there after the easy to recognize Scorpius, but, apart from the little teapot area, rest is trickier.
Doesnt matter that different star charts have different joining of the dot to dots. The main brighter stars are the same, and are what you try and find on a star chart.
I used to go outside and jot the stars on some paper, then go inside and try and see which area I was observing and match the stars, and it worked.
Time and patience = recognition finally, of some of the brighter stars, then finally a couple of constellations.
