Koko Kimono

A few years ago I knit my first sweater, this pretty little kimono from Jil Eaton's book Minnies Quick Knits for Babies and Toddlers. I did a lot of frogging (rip it, rip it) and re-knitting, but I was really happy with the way it turned out in end. It was made as a birthday present for my niece, and the yarn I used was Berroco Glace in champagne pink. I recently found out that a friend of mine is pregnant, and I knew I wanted to break out this pattern again. I decided that the same yarn in cool red would be a nice unisex color (as my friend is one who refuses to take advantage of technology in favor of surprise). I have completed the back of the sweater, and now wish that I had kept my notes from the first time around. The pattern calls for an edge of four rows of garter stitch, which is what I did on the back. When starting on the front left piece it again calls for the four rows of garter and then to begin in stockinette working to the last two stitchs and working those in garter. This leaves you with the garter edging on the bottom and righthand side of that piece, effectively making it the right side of the cardigan instead of the left as the pattern intends. Now because the left and right sides on this cardigan are not identical, this would change the side that ties. On my first sweater, I made the mistake of just adding an extra row of garter to get the piece back on track. Of course when I went to sew the back and front pieces together, there was a slight difference in the edging of the front and back. Only I noticed, but still, I noticed. This time around I'm debating as to whether I should just leave the ties on the opposite side of the sweater or disregard the pattern and work the garter edge at the beginning of the row, which may throw off my decrease rows later in the pattern. I dislike decreasing on the purl side, but I may have to just live with it. Any suggestions?