This top-down sock recipe uses two different kinds of ribbing, a short-row heel and the easiest of toes – a star toe. 1x1 ribbing in the cuff provides fine visual detail and a cuff that stays up; switching to 3x1 ribbing for the leg makes it faster to work, but still with good stretch and ‘cling’.

The short row heel is easy to remember, and looks like the heels you see on machine made socks. It fits most people comfortably and without seams. And the ‘star’ toe is not only easy, but it also looks good and feels great. As a bonus, it doesn’t have to line up with the heel!