Make it seamless: Provisional Cast On with a hook and waste yarn, then undo PCO and attach the live stitches as you go (with SSKs) when working the last 80 rows (if you’ve cast on 40 st)

I added a collar:
PUK 50 st around neckline and work 20cm (8”) of half brioche st
-round 1 K1P1 around
-round 2 K1 Yo S1 around
always repeat these 2 rounds (purling the formerly slipped stitch together with its yo)