Have been trying to do a monogram in Inkscape and have fallen at the first hurdle.

I wanted a round shape so I clicked on the icon and drew it. Then duplicated it ...in theory.... using control D. Could not see the effect of this but thought that, if it was directly over the top of the original, maybe I wouldnt. There was a small ellipse at the end of the pointer which presumably shouldnt have been there.

However, I then selected Path--outset several times but nothing happened. Tried other ways of duplicating but now the circle tool doesnt work. It just produces a sort of line.

Think I must have altered some setting because even if I turn off and on, it still doesnt work.

I thought I knew something about computers but have regressed very badly in the last hour or so! Does anyone know what the problem is?