Using a provisional cast on with pictures to help, this easy top down sweater uses no double point needles for the sleeves. Once the raglan shaping is completed, the sleeves are knit flat. Yes, sewing a seam is necessary but the fact that you knit the sleeves flat goes so much faster than with double pointed needles. I recommend the selvedge stitch throughout and instructions are given for that as well. The button band and borders are done in a nice seed stitch. The hood is picked up from the live stitches from the provisional cast on to make a seamless hood. I made this with a stretchy yarn so that the baby fits in it longer and the hood fits snuggly around the face.