This sweater-coat is knit on smaller needles than the yarn calls for. The purpose of this is to create a thicker material with a tighter tension in order to give the piece more weight and warmth so that it can be worn as an outer coat piece in the winter. It is knit with 2-4 inches of positive ease so that bulky sweaters and jackets may be worn underneath it. If using a different yarn than suggested, please ensure to use a yarn that is meant for 8-9mm needles in order to achieve correct gauge/tension; otherwise the piece may be too stretchy and loose and could not guarantee that the shape would hold/look the same if knit using a thinner wool (although I do highly recommend using the suggested wool as it is great and affordable wool and would guarantee the proper tension for the project). It is knit seamlessly from the bottom up. The hood is knit separate and grafted/weaved onto the body. It features deep front pockets, seed stitch detailing and picot edging on every edge save the pocket tops, as well as cabled seed stitch owls around the shoulders, and an optional leaf detailed i-cord. It is wider/flared at the bottom with waist shaped decreasing to create the “baby doll” effect. Size shown is a medium.