Flying through with a Whining Wrist

I've decided to jump, head-first, into this one. It's such a beautiful pattern, I couldn't resist!

As is my usual MO, I plan on modding this sweetie. First off, I decided to use a stash-yarn, which unfortunate is going to prove a gamble: I have 10 skeins of Jamieson's DK in Port Wine (a lovely colour!) which only amounts to 1075 metres of yarny goodness.
With this in mind, I've decided to shorten the sleeves, probably to just above the elbow.

Also, as I was working along, I noticed my row count is abnormally high! I hope this means I won't use up as much yarn.

I've also nipped in the waist a bit, (once again, in a desperate attempt to save some for what I imagine will be a yarn-gobbling yoke and tedious ribbed edging).

Now, off to knit. I do have one nagging problem - what colour buttons to buy? Any suggestions? I think it may be tricky to match the purple. Would a pearly white be too stark a contrast? How about slate grey?
Thanks!

Getting The Ball Rolling

Since no one else has posted yet, I'll get us started. Unfortunately I don't have pictures for this post (although I wish I did) because I am at work and I can't remember the password or username to my flickr account (I love and loathe those 'remember me' check-boxes). Anyway, on to the content.

I am working the sleeves first, for a couple of reasons. First, they didn't have the right size circular at the lys. Lame. Second, I hate sleeves. I am on record as stating politely that they 'demand fortitude'. I also usually do them flat so that I can do both at once (because I seem to be the only knitter in existence whose blood does not run cold at the thought of seaming). However, I was so intrigued by the seamless - but with a faux seam (!) - sleeve that I decided to follow directions. Thankfully, the first one is more than halfway done (this is where the picture would be). I will, however, have to add about twenty rows to compensate for my very long reach. Anyway, this way I'll get to the sweater yoke and I'll be like, 'Make two sleeves? I don't have to make two sleeves! I already made them!'

Aside from adding sleeve length, which is so standard for me that I don't even consider it a mod, I'm thinking of adding a dart or two to the bust. Here's the quandary: I'm a 36. The pattern is either 34 or 38. I wound up opting for the smaller size because it was a better fit at the waist and I like my garments more fitted than loose. I'm planning on some aggressive blocking. I'm also thinking that a couple of bust darts, increased in above the waist and decreased out before the cables on the yoke, would not go amiss.

Thoughts?