Did provisional cast on with an extra cable so that all I had to do when I got ready to finish the neck is add the needles as the stitches were already on the cable.
If you do this, please make sure to make it tight so that your stitches are not stretched too much.
This is the video I used to help me do this cast on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5n2MQpPXO2E&t=36s

I increased the bodice to 10 inches underneath the armhole. I did the short row shaping for the back as instructed. It is still a bit short for me but I hope blocking will make it the perfect fit.

Used US 9 and US6 knitting needles for knitting this to get gauge. I made shorter sleeves. I did 24 rounds on the sleeves after picking up underarm stitches, and then decreased evenly as instructed per pattern and then 4 rows of 1x1 ribbing. I bound off using the super stretchy bindoff as the first sleeve bound off slightly tight.