Apirka is a Gaelic name that means “pleasant.” These socks will keep you pleasantly warm and cozy, whether worn in an office or trekking through the snows! They are worked from the top down with calf shaping for a snug fit. The socks start at the widest part of the calf, and then narrow as they approach the ankle.

The pattern continues seamlessly down the heel. The afterthought heel that is used here is easy to work and allows for working in the round instead of back and forth on a heel flap with two colors. In fact, the heel is worked like a top down toe, including grafting the last few stitches together. The decreases are spaced differently, but the concept is the same. It is also similar to the “afterthought thumb” or “peasant thumb” often used in fingerless mitts. The heel stitches are worked with the waste yarn as a placeholder, and then the sole stitches are worked on top of the waste yarn. The sock will look like a tube until the waste yarn is removed and the live stitches put back on the needles to work the heel.

This pattern can be worked with any needle configuration (DPNs, two circulars or magic loop). Stitches can be arranged on your needles however you like, since the instructions refer to stitch counts and charts instead of specific needles. Most of the instructions for this pattern are charted, done in colors and symbols.

Apirka is available as a PDF or as a kit in two colorways from Knit Picks. The pattern uses 5 colors.

The PDF is missing a key for the charts; I’ve posted the key here until the problem is fixed.

Please Note: This pattern has errata - if you purchased it before 04/25/2012. The corrected version is available in your Knit Picks pattern library.

For questions or comments, please email Cailyn at dailyskein@gmail.com.