Sigh.... I have read several times about this technique of knitting two sleeves at once, but I am so lazy in trying out new things in knitting. But the next time... I have to do it! (There is this cardigan which is waiting for years in a box, which needs sleeves, it could be a good opportunity to try it out)
And with the front: yes, stiff. Strangely... as I knit so loose. I made tension squares, but I guess the fabric behaves differently in a bigger chunk of knitting. Or the yarn is simply not good (it has a big acrylic part)
And also yes to the top down method, but but... You remember I knit continental combined and you cannot do this in the round. When knitting in the round I must use the „standard“ method and this hurts my fingers very fast. One reason why I seldom knit socks. I like the fit of raglan sweaters, so I wanted to try out how this works in a bottom up construction (although I prefer top down - but mostly for cardigans or in crochet). When knitting in parts I can use combination knitting.