sweater patterns

[to_love_a_rose]

You guys have been super helpful lately, and I'm hoping you can help me out again. I'm feeling rather confident in my knitting lately, and I think I'd like to tackle a sweater. I've been all over Ravelry and Knitty and everywhere else I can think of, but nothing is jumping out at me as exactly what I'm looking for.

Can anyone recommend a sweater pattern that's good for an advanced beginner? I'd like something knit flat, not in the round. Ideally, it'll be something with shaping at the waist and a bit of negative ease built in since I like my clothing fitted. Something with ribbing and maybe a few simple cables would be nice, but no lace patterns or color work, please. A cardigan is preferred, but I'll take a pull-over as well since I could use both in my closet. I usually only look for free patterns, but I'd be willing to pay a few dollars if necessary to get the pattern I really want.

Or, can anyone suggest a good tutorial for designing your own pattern? I have an idea of what I'd like pretty clearly in my head, but I've never made a pattern for anything so complicated as a sweater.