Changing a Pattern for a Felicita Ruana

[twosticksandstring5]

Hi All,
I found this lovely pattern on the naturallycaron website: http://www.naturallycaron.com/projec...elicita_5.html
It is really pretty and a picture is worth a thousand words. I want to change it though.

I have two possible changes to the pattern I'd like to make depending on the feedback I get.

I was thinking of knitting it in one piece instead of two and therefore eliminating that ugly seam. I don't see a problem with doing that, it would just be one long piece. Am I missing a potential problem with eliminating the seam?

Another possibility is to knit two separate wide pieces and then seam them vertically down the back to create a longer back (I don't like the look of the short back and think it would be cuter if the back were longer). Can any of you more experienced folks comment on the changes I have in mind?

TIA!
Debbie