I can! I have sewn for 50 years, and that yoke ate my lunch!
What I finally did was stitch a 5/8" guide seam on the underarms of the top. I then clipped the seam almost to the stitching, so it would lay flatter. It went together much easier. That's the way we used to do these kind of things, but the instructions nowdays don't show how to do that.
By the way, the ruffles turned out okay with the raw edge, so don't be afraid of them. I finally had to get the seam marker out and mark the gathering line in order to stitch 1/8" on either side as the pattern called for.
And I cut one ruffle 1/8" off, so I only put two ruffles on. It looks okay, but I probably should have recut another ruffle to do 3 like the pattern.
Gabbie is very tall for her age, (she's 8) and very slender. Her hips are only 23 1/2". I sewed off a size 6, and added about 2" to everything. She loves her outfit, and it looks cute on her. I'll post a pic as soon as I transfer it from my camera.
Not the easiest pattern, for sure! But worth it.