Original pattern was from the top down. But I like working from the toe up so when I run out of yarn I can either make the cuff a differnt color or just finish the sock where I m or if I have more than the pattern calls for make the socks longer. I have never reveresed a pattern before so this is a first. I also used two sckeins of the same patons yarn but differnt dye lots ( on purpose bought them on clearance for one dollar). I figured if I goofed up well at least it was not an expensive mistake. I am 90% the way done and I did run out of the yarn which I expected two since the pattern calls for. Three colors and four skeins. But not an issue I just switched to a skein of cream I also bought for a dollar. So now I have a pair of mismatched matched socks. I did not try to make the pattern repeats match I think it it fun and funky that way and since they are different dye lots they truely do not match one to another color wise but who care under winter boots of under jeans in cold utah winters I sure don’t I made them for a learning experience and I made them for warmth both of which came out perfect. Oh yeah when one skein ran out the other did not for two more rounds and because these are purosful mismatched sock I just let it do that. If I had followed the pattern and made it in fair isle but with two colors not three I would not have had the wide white band at the top but I did not care about that as that lands at the knee and looks like I did it on purpose which I did in a way. The pattern works backwards perfectly as long as you remember to increase where it reads decrease and visa versa. So I assume it works perfectly forward as well. My daughters are already trying to steal the socks so I guess others like them too. I did this as an experiment but was a no brainer project so it was an easy knit.