I am knitting a baby sweater and it’s been a while since I’ve knitted a sweater. I am ready to do the neckband, front borders and sew all the seams. My pattern (raglan sleeves, cardigan) says to sew front, sleeves and back seams before doing the neckband. I am thinking it might be easier to do the neckband first. Just curious about your thoughts. I did sew the seams as instructed, started the neckband and wasn’t happy so took it all apart and getting ready to try again!!! Thanks for any suggestions!!! 
Sweater assembly
It’s been a long time since I made a raglan top but I think the sleeves front and back need to be seamed first to hold it together to enable you to pick up for the neckband. You need one section open to knit back and forth, with a cardigan that’s the front opening.
What was it you didn’t like about the neckband? Too tight? Not comfortable to knit with the piece already joined? Are you using a circular or straight needles? It can feel a bit tight sometimes with straight needles.
What is the pattern you’re making?
I am knitting “Tuck” Designs by Tracy D.
I think I didn’t sew the seams close enough to the neckband fearing it would be hard to pick up the stitches. I had left sleeve and back stitches on holders and it ended up being awkward and not looking great. I am using circular needles. Maybe second time is the charm. Ha! I will try again. Thanks for getting back to me!
Thanks for the pattern.
I can’t tell looking at the picture if the cardigan is made all in pieces (2 fronts, a back, 2 sleeves) and you are seaming all the way up the raglan or if it’s one piece, the raglan having been formed with decreases.
If it’s all different pieces I belive you’d need the raglan seams pretty much finished to enable you to pick up the neckband smoothly. Even if you didn’t weave in the top end of the seam yarn, I think it would need to have been sewn right up to the last stitch. All the edges and live sttches should then be aligned and make for a smoother pick up row.
If the stitch holders are too annoying and in your way you might consider moving them to something else more flexible, maybe a spare cable needle (smaller and with stoppers on each end) or even a thread/yarn strand. Whist you can’t knit off a yarn strand it’s flexible enough to be less of a bother when trying to pick up the earlier stitches and then when you get to the stitches held on thread you could transfer them to a spare needle to knit them off.
If your working circular needle is long enough you could pick up all the live stitches (not working them, just slipping them) onto that before working the row, it depends if you find that comfortable (I personally don’t like working a small circle but most people seem fine with it). Then you’d have a bunch if live stitches on your needle and pick up in whatever gaps you are instructed to pick up in (maybe just the fronts?) and work the live stitches as you get to them.
Just different ways of doing the same thing.
I’d want the raglan seams pretty snug to the top and pick up a stitch either side to prevent holes between the raglan and neckband - although you can always use a yarn end to close up a gap before/whilst weaving in.
If you’re still struggling or unsure do post again so that someone with more experience can help out.
Thank you so much!!! I will put all your good advice to use and hopefully post a picture of the finished product soon!!! Happy knitting.
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It’s beautiful and blocking is just enhancing your lovely knitting!
One question, the raglan decreases on the front don’t seem as pronounced as those on the back. Is that just the way the front is spread out or is it a feature of the pattern?
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I can be wrong but I think the fronts are just placed on the blocking mat with switched sides. The raglan looks like a v-neck but it’s a crew neck cardigan.
Or was it something else you saw?
Sorry I’m always no nosey. I always want to understand.
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This is so beautiful. How did you get such beautiful range of colours in the stitch pattern? Is it a self patterning yarn? Or multiple strands or something else clever? I love the effect.
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Thank you! Originally I didn’t block the pieces (which in my heart of hearts I knew I should!) but when I took it all apart I decided to block. The front and back are actually the same raglan shaping. It was probably hard to tell from the way I laid it out so I’m sending you a photo with the front and back aligned. Hopefully it looks right. 
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Thank you! The yarn is some I had left over from knitting a baby hat and that’s the way the yarn is patterned. The brand is called Sublime, baby cashmere merino silk DK. I had just enough. Ha! I think that color is no longer available.
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Thanks for letting me know. I have used that yarn before but the plain colours. I don’t usually like self patterning yarn but the way you worked it in that stitch pattern looks great. I’ll keep this in mind. Always something to learn.
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Ah Creations, you’re right. The cardigan is a round neck with the raglan sleeves so the fronts are just switched in blocking. Whew!
Love the color and pattern combination.
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Super! This will look so smart on a little one.
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So neat and adorable! What the well-dressed baby will wear.
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What a beautiful sweater, so well done. Good job 
Thank you so much!!! Those button bands were challenging!!! Hopefully better on the next one. 
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Nice work.