knitting decisions

I realized this past weekend, when chatting with my awesome cousin who is also obsessed with yarn and fiber, that Rhinebeck is coming up, and I need to get my shit together with knitting already!

Last year was the first year I went to the Rhinebeck Sheep and Wool Festival and it was SO MUCH FUN.  It's where I learned to spin (taught by said cousin!), and it was a great chance to see a ton of small and large fiber and yarn vendors in one place.

I'm not much into the must-make-showpiece-for-Rhinebeck, which many knitters are, but the deadline does give me a boost to get my shit together when it comes to making a decision about a sweater I've been thinking about for ages.

Over a decade ago, I got the perfect sweater from, of all places, Target.  Grey (cotton, but don't so much care about that), 3/4 sleeve, slight swing cardigan with a three button closure near the slightly wide scoop neck. It's perfect. It looks great with dresses, with jeans, it's not black so I can wear it with black and not look like Wednesday Adams. It's also from Target, so it's a magical dream unicorn for surviving as long as it has. 

And I want to make a replacement.

Last winter, I decided to do just that, and ordered a few options of yarn--some worsted, some aran weight--knowing that I'd use it.  And today, I just wound up a bunch of skeins of Madelinetosh Vintage in Graphite.  But I'm still paralyzed by decision making.  Internet, opinions please?

I don't really feel like making a ton of modifications to a pattern, other than length, because that's just second nature.  So I'd like to defy my nature and pick something that's within the same gauge/yarn weight, and doesn't require too much fiddling for what I want.

Internet, tell me what to pick!

Sans Serif, by Elizabeth Doherty from Quince and Co's Top Down: Reimagining Set In Sleeve Design

I just bought the new book from Quince and Co by Elizabeth Doherty, Top Down: Reimagining Set in Sleeve Design,  which is appealing to me on so many levels. 1.) no seaming, which I hate. 2.) clever construction and short rows to shape sleeve caps, which I love.  And there's a possibly-perfect-cardigan there, Sans Serif (rav link).  Frontrunner?

Vine Yoke Cardigan by Ysolda Teague, from Twist Collective Fall '09 issue

I originally thought I'd make the Vine Yoke Cardigan by Ysolda Teague (rav link), from the Twist Collective Fall '09 issue.  I've seen it done in person and it is LOVELY and wearable.  But I'm thinking I want to go a bit simpler for this?

Tea Leaves by Melissa LaBarre for Madelinetosh

Tea Leaves by Melissa LaBarre (rav link) was another option.  I worry that the neckline might skew a bit wide, and while I could fix it, do I really want to deal with raising the neck a bit as well? Would it be fine? 

Ramona Cardigan by Elizabeth Smith / The Brown Stitch

Going for the MadTosh Vintage over the Aran weight meant that the highly appealing Ramona cardigan (rav link) might be shuttled by the wayside for now. I do love that ribbing. I think when I go to the heavier weight, this will be the winner. 

Charlotte light cardigan, by Carrie Bostick Hoge / Madder

Charlotte light from Madder (rav link) with the A-line shaping is an option, though I'd need to adjust slightly for a different gauge and I'm thinking that neckline is a bit too high for me. 

Charlotte cardigan by  Carrie Bostick Hoge / Madder

Perhaps the Charlotte cardi also from Madder (rav link), also A-line shaping, would work better?  I do love me some garter stitch and am super crazy fast with that. 

Cocoa Cardigan, from Winter 15 Interweave Knits Magazine

Going fancier with yoke, there's the Cocoa Cardigan (rav link), which is from the Winter 15 Interweave Knits magazine .  Too fancy? I'd drop the body shaping in the sweater to get a bit more A-line.

Uniform, by Carrie Bostick Hoge / Madder

Or do I scrap the idea of a replacement cardigan totally, and go make Uniform (rav link) with a shawl collar and 3/4 sleeves? 

UGH INTERNET TELL ME WHAT TO DO