Malabrigo
Hand-Dyed Yarns from Uruguay – from Fingering to Worsted, in Colors you can feel.
What makes Malabrigo special
Malabrigo is a family-run yarn company from Uruguay. What distinguishes the brand is the combination of exceptional softness and hand-dyed colors, unique in their depth and complexity. The yarns are kettle-dyed in small batches by a dedicated team of artisan dyers – each ball is one of a kind.
The softness is no accident: Malabrigo uses a special Merino Wool that feels different in the hand compared to traditionally spun yarns – almost liquid, meltingly soft. The assortment includes both Superwash variants for everyday use and non-superwash yarns for maximum softness and Bloom.
For us at BONIFAKTUR, Malabrigo is among the yarns we wholeheartedly recommend. Six yarns in various weight classes, all in the characteristic Malabrigo hand-dyed colors.
An overview of the Yarns
Malabrigo Rios
The most popular Malabrigo yarn – by far: over 210,000 projects on Ravelry speak for themselves. Rios is the durable option in the assortment: superwash, machine washable, available in over 50 colors. Perfect for sweaters, hats, accessories, and all projects that need to look beautiful while standing up to everyday wear.
Malabrigo Mechita
Malabrigo's Fingering yarn: a soft single-ply Merino that carries colors as deep and vibrant as only Malabrigo can. Perfect for shawls, socks, fine sweaters, and all projects where fingering weight and intense hand-dyed colors come together. Machine washable.
Malabrigo Worsted
The original Malabrigo. Single-ply Merino, not superwash – this makes it even softer than Rios, but also more delicate. For everyone who wants maximum Softness and is willing to accept Hand Wash care. After washing, the yarn develops a beautiful Bloom.
Malabrigo Two Lands
Dos Tierras – two worlds – is a two-ply yarn where each strand is dyed separately. Knitting creates natural color changes and heather effects that give each project a unique texture. The blend of Merino and baby Alpaca provides warmth and a soft, slightly fuzzy hand feel.
Malabrigo Silkpaca
The luxury option: Baby Alpaca and Silk combined in a lace yarn. Silkpaca is exceptionally soft, has the characteristic sheen of silk, and drapes elegantly. Perfect for shawls, stoles, and lace projects where material quality is the focus.
Malabrigo Lace
Malabrigo Lace is single-ply Merino at lace weight – ultra-thin, soft, with the full depth of Malabrigo hand-dyes. Perfect for delicate stoles, shawls, and lace projects where the yarn itself steals the show. Not superwash – Hand Wash recommended.
Which Malabrigo yarn for which project?
For sweaters and quick projects: Rios (superwash, machine washable) or Worsted (even softer, Hand Wash). For socks and fingering projects: Mechita. For shawls and stoles: Silkpaca or Lace. For special color effects in DK: Dos Tierras.
Care Tips
Superwash yarns (Rios, Mechita): Machine Wash on wool cycle at 30°C possible, Hand Wash recommended. Non-Superwash (Worsted, Lace): Hand Wash only, lukewarm, do not wring. Dos Tierras and Silkpaca: Hand Wash recommended (Alpaca and Silk do not tolerate Machine Wash). All Malabrigo yarns: roll out in a towel, dry flat.
Tip: Hand-Dyed Yarns from different baths can have slightly different shades – always buy all balls of a project from the same Dye Lot and regularly alternate between balls while Knitting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does Malabrigo come from?
Malabrigo is a family-run yarn company from Uruguay. The yarns are hand-dyed there in small batches – by a dedicated team of artisan dyers.
What is the difference between Rios and Worsted?
Both use Merino Wool and have the same Meterage (192m/100g). The main difference: Rios is superwash and 4-ply (machine washable, more durable), Worsted is not superwash and single-ply (even softer, Hand Wash only). For washing convenience: Rios. For maximum Softness: Worsted.
Is Malabrigo machine washable?
Rios and Mechita are superwash – Machine Wash at 30°C on the wool program is possible. Worsted and Lace are not superwash and should only be Hand Wash. Dos Tierras and Silkpaca also only Hand Wash. Always check the label.
Why do Malabrigo colors vary between different lots?
Because each lot is hand-dyed. Even with the same color name, there can be slight variations in shade. Buy all balls for a project from the same Dye Lot and alternate between balls while knitting.
Is one ball of Rios enough for a pair of socks?
Rios has 192m per 100g – this is usually enough for a pair of adult socks. For larger sizes, it might be tight. Note: Rios is superwash, but contains no Nylon – for maximum sock durability, BONIFAKTUR also offers Sock Yarns with polyamide content.
Discover all Malabrigo yarns
Rios, Mechita, Worsted, Dos Tierras, Silkpaca & Lace – hand-dyed in Uruguay, all Colors available immediately.
To the Malabrigo range