Designing decisions

I made short little pouffy cuffs at the collar and wrists of this sweater because that's what I like. I didn't want a big focal point at those places. I don't want a big focal point at the hips, but if I made a little pouffy cuff there, it would end up being a focal point. What I want is something that can anchor the fabric and make it not curl. I also want something that can act as a frame to the patterning of the sweater.

I want, therefore, something short, plain (not corrugated ribbing, say), but structurally significant.

My first try was a few rows of rib in needles several sizes smaller than the body of the sweater had been made. I also decreased by a stitch, but that was just to settle the even/odd problem. But that popped out at the bottom, worryingly, as though it might not be dedicated to the task of holding the end up. I thought about letting the problem get solved in blocking, but instead, I think the right thing to do will be to un-pick it and replace it with something tighter.

I haven't yet decided if I should get rid of some stitches & stay with this needle dimension or keep the large stitch count and reduce the needle size. I suspect that I am near the limit of what varying needle size can accomplish. Eventually, the bulk of the yarn makes the decisions. So, I guess I'll reduce the number of stitches by some reasonable amount, say, 5%.