Hey Jessica. I also started mine with the twist & rip method. My natural hair was almost waist length when I began my journey and by 11 1/2 months it was up to my shoulders. They looped, zig zagged and shrunk to the thickness of where my section of hair meets the scalp. They look nothing like they did when I T&R'd them. People who have really thin hair won't get as many dreads as people with thicker hair (I have over 60). When you made yours, what is the size of the area where the section of hair meets the scalp? You should keep those sections 1 inch maximum. As SE said, do different thicknesses as it fills in the areas and looks natural. A tip for making them so they don't look like braids...don't go twist rip twist rip twist rip...instead do the method of twist rip rip rip, twist rip rip rip rip, twist rip rip rip and so on.....
Be prepared for changes...some will loosen, some will even fall out....let them, that is part of the journey they take to mature. If you retighten any it will set back the time again, so once done just let them do their thing....Did I ever send you my post on T&R, if not, here you go: http://www.dreadlockssite.com/forum/topics/just-starting-out-what-to-expect Peace