One thing I love about this pattern is that the lower half is knit all in one piece on circular needles (I'm a huge fan of circular needles!).  I've been working the stripes in a sort of random fashion, changing colors whenever I feel like it and carrying the other colors up the side as I go. To change colors I just pick the new color up in front of the old color, this catches the old color in the first stitch and leaves a tidy edge. When I'm done with the jacket, I'll finish the edge with an attached I-cord which will enclose the strands that were carried up along the edge. 

I've got quite a ways to go before then though! --Joelle