the original pattern size is in size Small, so I’m adding extra stitches and using needles 2 sizes up (7mm instead of 5mm, 12mm instead of 10mm). I aim for a relaxed, drapey fit.

DONE:

Cast on 152 stitches with needle 12, which should give approx 108cm at my horizontal gauge. I prefer it to be lose.

edge (first 11 rows):
as per pattern

body:

needle 12mm: 3 rows x knit, 1 x purl, 2 x knit;
needle 7mm: 3 rows x purl, 3 x knit, 1 x purl, 3 x knit
needle 5mm: 3 rows x purl, 3 x knit, 1 x purl, 3 x knit

• check length so far
• if about 20 cm (=half of the length from bottom to sleeve opening - note: the length may actually be more due me going up two sizes with the needles and using a thicker yarn!), then continue as follows:

needle 5mm: 3 rows x knit, 1 x purl, 2 x knit;
needle 5mm: 3 rows x purl, 3 x knit, 1 x purl, 3 x knit
needle 5mm: 3 rows x purl, 3 x knit, 1 x purl, 3 x knit

• check length: it should be approx. 40 cm now
• check circumference before going on: it may have turned out too large! (bottom seems like ~ 2x69cm!)
• divide front and back

Somehow ended up with 154 (instead of 152) sts, so divided into 77 each side

• continue front with needle 5 up to the neck opening

NOTE:
at this point the knit is done by going back and forth (no longer in the round).
Because of this, for example, to achieve “3 rows x knit”, it will be necessary to knit the first, purl the second, knit the third (assuming that you start the first row with the right side of the work facing you).
The instructions that follow from here on indicate the end result (i.e. how the work will look when seen from the right side) rather than the actual knitting stitches (knit/purl the row).

Continue for 22 cm from where it divided as follows :

needle 5mm: 3 rows x knit, 1 x purl, 2 x knit;
needle 5mm: 3 rows x purl, 3 x knit, 1 x purl, 3 x knit
needle 5mm: 3 rows x purl, 3 x knit, 1 x purl, 3 x knit
needle 5mm: 3 rows x knit, 1 x purl, 2 x knit;

(now check that it’s 22 cm, if not add extra rows following previous patterns in the body) - it’s approx 16 cm at this point, so will add one or two more repeats and check again

{MOD: extra repeats}
{needle 5mm: 3 rows x knit, 1 x purl, 2 x knit;}
{needle 5mm: 3 rows x purl, 3 x knit, 1 x purl}

Then knit the last 3 cm in stockinette st, ending with the wrong side. = 7 rows

Last row: k 15 {mod:17}, bind off 42 stitches loosely, k 15 {17}.

• do the same for back
• close shoulder seams (cast off with 3-needles bind off)

(not done)
{MOD: optional:
crochet or i-cord border at armholes and neck;
this to make the end stitches more resilient and the stockinette stitch less curly at the neck.
alternatively: small 1/1 ribbing at neck and armholes as in these projects:
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/tissot/vasa
“Added ribbing on armholes to finish neater”
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/3crazycats/vasa
“finished top edge with 3 rows 1x1 rib before seaming”
}

Comments:
because of the added rows at the top section, the arm openings are rather deep. I chose not to seam them to avoid strain on the seam when lifting and moving arms around because there is no arm shaping in the pattern.
Also, I didn’t think of taking into account that silk can grow after washing, so hopefully this won’t turn too long once washed.
The yarn seems keen to fuzzing as it has very little twist.