I’m using the written pattern’s measurements as a starting point but basically am re-working everything for my gauge and so that the sweater will hang closed. I may keep with the single or few top buttons, but the window to the stomach is not a good look for anyone.

For the sleeves, I took the required number of stitches, worked them flat back and forth for a few rows until I had the desired length. Worked a few rows of ribbing and cast off with Kitchener stitch. Afterwards, I mattress stitched the underarm seam together and grafted the underarms. All of this was done before knitting the bulk of the sweater body (less annoying than turning an entire sweater around in my lap while knitting sleeves in the round).

I changed how the folded over flaps were attached to the body of the sweater. Instead of sewing them once all the knitting is finished (as written in the pattern), I instead put the stitches that would become the flap on a separate needle, folded it across as on the finished piece, and knit them together with the body stitches as part of the first row of the bottom ribbing.

For the neck edging, I picked up stitches all along the row, divided the stitches for the top part of the flap and knit them together with the body stitches as I worked an i-cord edging (over 3 sts) along the top. Made more sense to me than a few rows of garter stitch.

Just needs blocking and buttons, so I declare this sweater done.