So I've learned that I don't need to taper my strands too much when cutting them...but now my problem is that I'm dropping them too early. In my current 12 strand whip I dropped two strands early on and it looks like crap for about 5 inches (lots of gaps). I should have only dropped one (if that) when I did.

However knowing that now, I can avoid that in the future.

This whip has been taking forever...but I'm pretty proud of it (except for 5 inches of it). I'm about halfway done, but I think the plaiting will be going faster from here on in.

Also my technique of pulling the strands tight is getting better (I think).