(from Nancy Bush’s pattern description):

…The construction of this stocking is a bit unusual becaus the seam stitch at the back of the leg is not centered at the join of the rounds, but is placed at the end of the first needle.  Also, the gusset shaping for the foot begins on what we usually think of as the last needle; here, that needle has become needle 1.  I have followed the French Heel as specified in the original pattern, but instead of ending the Flat Toe shaping with a three-needle bind-off, I have worked a Kitchener stitch for a smooth finish.  And although the original pattern calls for working on set of four needles, I have worked on five.