Design Dilemma

Ever since I finished the v-neck top down sweater that I designed, I've been brooding over what I wanted to design next.
Last summer my second cousin, Blake, wore this awesome sweater to a family party. She was kind enough (or indulgent enough) to let me take lots of pictures and measurements. I'm sure she couldn't understand the excitement that we (mom + sister) felt over her sweater.

I swatched with Cascade Ultra Pima and found the stitch pattern that either is the same or such a close facsimile to the stitch in the sweater that I'm satisfied.

In addition to using my measurements, I measured a couple of garments I like the fit of.

Numbers crunched, I cast on provisionally for the back and began knitting (from the top down) with garter stitch. My plan was to have garter sleeves to tie into the garter yoke and then put the pattern stitch below the bodice. As you can see I stopped mid-row.

I realized that I would have to cast on for the whole length of the sleeve - cross back - sleeve and knit the yoke as one long psuedo shrug that I would later attach the bodice to and seam the sleeves. I want the garter lines going the long way down the sleeve. My vision was to make this a 3 season sweater. The color Ultra Pima I chose is a rich burgundy.

If I don't have garter sleeves, the garter would break at the shoulder and I could knit the pattern stitch down the sleeve.

So for the time being, I've set it aside while I ponder my choices. Any ideas?