Help with braiding fringe

Hi,
I am new and I guess I posted this in the wrong place, so I will try again for you help. I made a Montego Bay Scarf that I found in last summers Interweave magazine. It says to put 5 strands of yarn through the yarn over “holes” but I don’t see any directions for how to get a tight braid. I can’t find a way to hold the scarf down while I try to braid it, and I don’t know if I should braid each strand separately (10 when doubled up and put in the hole) or use 2 and 2 and 2 etc. If anyone has made this scarf maybe you could help me. Thanks.