Finished on 23rd of December in time for Christmas Eve (which is when we celebrate christmas here). Knitted according to pattern but added lifelines as I suspected it needed more length which was correct. Adding more length after the 2x2 rib on both the body and the sleeve, and will use kitchener stitch to add the 1x1 ribbing back. The one row of kitchener stitch will mimic the one round of knit stitches according to pattern.

Finally finished on February 7th.