Furniture, Wood and Cabinetry Finishing - Fixing a blotchy stain

I have attempted staining some alder unfinished furniture and do not like the uneveness of the color. Blotchy may not be the right word because different pieces of wood have different levels of stain rather than random "blotches".

I sanded twice (120, 240) then applied a Minwax wood conditioner and 2 coats of red mahogony wood finish (sanded between coats). Is there anything I can do to even out the coloration before applying the polyeurothane sealant?

I do have a few spotty areas that are too dark because too much stain soaked in. I saw a can of stain stripper/remover at the hardware store, can I use that only on the areas that are too dark and then restain it, or will spot fixes make things worse?

For uniform results, start with a uniform base. Strip the piece and start over. Apply each coat of stain fully each time. Trying to match stain on the fly won't work with what is sold in most stores.

Hope this helps.