I finished it at last! It’s perfect now. Wildflower knot stitch prevents the “body” from stretching across too much. The cabled stripe and the ruffle give the desired shape. Can you believe the last 2 patterns are made with the same stitch number? Magic of knitting :)

168 st waist

Waist band and bottom edge are from https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/190-31-embrace-o....

https://www.knittingstitches.org/2018/06/king-charles-bro...