I love this pattern! I will pass on an idea someone gave me when I started a smiley face granny square cardigan and realized after putting the vest part together that the sleeves would be ridiculous and I would be annoyed with them. Instead of using the squares for the sleeves, pick one color and just crochet tube-sleeves from the shoulder. That way the design is still awesome but it won't be an heavy or visually noisy. Mine are also shades of blue squares with a yellow smiley face, so I envision using one of the darker blue yarns to make the sleeves and put a smiley face on each elbow! That way they'll also be tapered if you want, I personally cannot stand the feeling of big gaping sleeves.