Malabrigo Knitting Patterns

Designs built around a hand-dyed yarn

Malabrigo's yarns are kettle-dyed by hand in Uruguay, which is why two skeins of the same shade are related rather than identical, and why the patterns written for them look the way they do. Designers working with Malabrigo tend to avoid busy stitch patterns that compete with the colour, and instead use large plain areas — stocking stitch shawl wings, garter ridges, simple yokes — where the dye can do the work. Where texture does appear it is bold: chunky cables, deep ribs and slipped-stitch columns that survive a variegated colourway. The collection covers shawls and wraps, hats and cowls, jumpers and cardigans, socks, mitts and babywear.

Matching the pattern to the colourway

• Highly variegated shades: keep to garter stitch, stocking stitch or a simple slipped-stitch texture. Lace and cables will disappear.
• Tonal, near-solid shades: the place to put your best cables, travelling stitches and lace charts.
• Two contrasting skeins: stripes and marled sections tame a wild colourway and even out pooling.
• Long gradients: triangular and crescent shawls, where widening rows stretch the colour changes out beautifully.

Alternating skeins — the technique that matters most here

Whenever a piece uses more than one skein of a hand-dyed yarn, alternate them. Work two rows from skein A, two from skein B, carrying the unused yarn loosely up the side. It takes seconds per row and it removes the hard line that otherwise appears halfway up a shawl or across a sleeve where the second skein starts. On a jumper, alternate from the very first row rather than waiting until you notice a difference; on a hat you can usually get away without it. This single habit is the difference between a Malabrigo project that looks intentional and one that looks patched.

Weight, tension and quantities

Malabrigo bases span lace and 4 ply through worsted-weight singles to chunky, and the singles behave differently from the plied yarns. A single ply blooms noticeably after washing, filling in a fabric that looked loose on the needle — so knit a swatch, wash it, and measure only then, or your jumper will come out dense and stiff. Merino singles also pill at friction points, which argues for hats, shawls and cowls over school jumpers. On quantities, work to the metreage the pattern lists: shawls commonly want 400–800 metres, hats one skein, an adult worsted jumper often 1,000 metres or more. Buy the whole quantity together, as reordering a hand-dyed shade later rarely matches.

Blocking, which is not optional

Merino responds dramatically to blocking. Soak the finished piece in lukewarm water with a little wool wash for twenty minutes, press out the water in a towel without wringing, then pin to shape. Shawls need aggressive pinning — blocking wires or a pin every few centimetres along the edge — to open lace and set a straight top edge; the difference is not subtle. Garments should be pinned to the schematic measurements and left to dry flat. Expect a hand-dyed yarn to release a little excess dye in that first soak; it is normal, and rinsing until the water runs clear is enough.

Wearing and washing

Most Malabrigo bases are not superwash, so hand-wash in cool water, never agitate, and dry flat. Air knitwear after wearing rather than washing it every time. Store folded with the shape supported; hanging a merino shawl over a hook will leave a permanent stretched point.

Malabrigo pattern questions

Why should I alternate skeins? Hand-dyed skeins vary. Alternating every two rows blends the difference so no line shows.

Which patterns suit variegated Malabrigo? Garter and stocking stitch shawls, simple hats and slipped-stitch textures.

Do I need to wash my swatch? Yes, especially with the singles, which bloom and change tension after their first soak.

Is Malabrigo machine washable? Most bases are not. Check the ball band, hand-wash cool and dry flat.

How many skeins for a shawl? Usually one to three depending on size and weight — always buy to the pattern's stated metreage.