Knitting Dilemma

I’m almost finished knitting my sweater.

But I’m being challenged by the final step: adding the button band.

The instructions say to cast on two stitches for every three rows down the front. The first time I did that, the band shortened the front by at least 6”. I don’t want to shorten the front at all.

I added more stitches to the band this second time - but first the button holes weren’t the same distance apart. Now the ribbing (knit 1, purl 1) creates an elasticity that still shortens the front.

I probably have no choice but to take it apart again - for the third time!