I especially like what you did with the hem, I demand photos of it worn!
I couldn't say better 
I can't take credit for the hem, the pattern I used for the basic poncho-capelette shape called for it to help keep the edge from curling, though I did the same for the collar as the original pattern also called for a ribbed turtle-neck type collar... Whiiiich would have fit my turtle theme! Ah well.
As for nice, even stitches, blocking heals a lot of wounds. Although if you look close, part of the reason those diamonds look like turtles is cause the very top and bottom stitches, the ones with the biggest floats in between color-changes, are pulled tight. Not tight enough to pucker the fabric, but enough to make the stitches try to disappear. Previously I'd only done colorwork on straight needles, which are easier to keep the same tension throughout. I didn't think it would be too big a deal for cable needles, but even that small change of tension made a difference. I'm trying to decide if I want to rework those few stitches with leftover yarn, at least for the lighter diamonds within the darker background.
One of the reasons I chose this design over the Captain's cape was that it was tied with a cord and not the clasp and buckle. Lo and behold what did I find today? The perfect clasp and buckle set! Can I possibly justify making another cape!?
