Where to buy Malabrigo yarn in the UK — and why it is worth seeking out
Malabrigo is a small yarn company based in Uruguay with a devoted following among knitters and crocheters worldwide. They do not advertise heavily, they do not sell through large chain retailers, and they produce yarn in relatively small quantities using a hand-dyeing process that makes each skein genuinely individual. As a result, finding Malabrigo in the UK — particularly outside London and the South East — requires knowing where to look.
We stock Malabrigo at Craft and Canvas in Hebden Bridge. We carry four yarns from the range — Rios, Arroyo, Ultimate Sock, and Susurro — all at £14.95 per skein, available in our shop at 3 Carlton Street and online at craftandcanvas.co.uk with UK delivery. This post explains what makes Malabrigo worth seeking out, and what the difference is between the four yarns we stock.
What Malabrigo is and why knitters love it
Malabrigo was founded in Uruguay in 2004. The company hand-dyes all of its yarns in small batches using fibres sourced for quality rather than cost — primarily merino wool, with some silk, linen, and nylon blends depending on the yarn. The dyeing process is what sets Malabrigo apart from most commercial yarn brands. Rather than producing uniform, solid colours, Malabrigo's hand-dyeing creates depth, variation, and complexity within a single colourway — the kind of colour that shifts and changes as you knit and that looks completely different in different lights.
The colourways themselves have become almost legendary among yarn enthusiasts. Names like Hollyhock, Whale's Road, Polar Morn, and Bobby Blue have followings of their own, and certain colourways sell out quickly when they appear. Malabrigo releases new colourways regularly and retires others, which means their range has a collectible quality that few yarn brands match.
In the North of England, Malabrigo is genuinely scarce. Most independent yarn shops that stock it are concentrated in London and the South. We are one of very few stockists in the North West and Yorkshire, which is why customers travel to us from Leeds, Manchester, Bradford, and further afield specifically for Malabrigo.
The four Malabrigo yarns we stock
Rios is the worsted weight in the range — 100% superwash merino, 192 metres per 100g skein, machine washable. It is the most versatile of the four, suited to sweaters, cardigans, hats, mittens, blankets, and shawls. The worsted weight knits up quickly and the stitch definition is excellent. If you are new to Malabrigo, Rios is the natural starting point.
Arroyo is sport weight — also 100% superwash merino, 306 metres per 100g skein, machine washable. The lighter weight gives finer stitch definition than Rios and makes it well suited to garments, colourwork, lace, and projects where you want a little more detail. At 306 metres a skein it goes a long way.
Ultimate Sock is the fingering weight option — 75% superwash merino and 25% nylon, 385 metres per 100g skein. The nylon content adds the durability that a sock yarn requires, and the generous meterage means a single skein is usually enough for a full pair of socks. It works equally well for shawls, baby garments, and lace projects.
Susurro is the most distinctive yarn in the range — a blend of 50% mulberry silk, 25% linen, and 25% merino wool at sport to DK weight, 297 metres per 100g skein. The silk gives it a fluid drape and a soft sheen that pure wool cannot replicate, and the linen takes the hand-dye differently to the silk and wool, producing colour complexity and depth that makes each skein visually extraordinary. Susurro is Malabrigo's warm-weather yarn, designed for shawls, wraps, and lightweight garments where drape and breathability matter. It requires hand washing rather than machine washing, but the result is worth the care.
All four are £14.95 per skein. All four are available in our Hebden Bridge shop and online at craftandcanvas.co.uk.
A note on dye lots
All Malabrigo yarns are hand-dyed in small batches, which means colour depth and character can vary subtly between skeins even within the same colourway. This is a natural and valued characteristic of artisan hand-dyed yarn — it is part of what makes each skein individual. If your project requires more than one skein, we strongly recommend buying all skeins at the same time to ensure the closest possible match, and alternating between two skeins every few rows as you knit to distribute any variation evenly across the finished piece.
Visiting us or ordering online
We are at 3 Carlton Street in the centre of Hebden Bridge, open Tuesday to Friday and weekends. Hebden Bridge is around 45 minutes from Leeds, 55 minutes from Manchester, and 40 minutes from Bradford by car. The railway station is a short walk from the shop and there are several town centre car parks nearby.
If you cannot visit in person, we ship UK-wide from craftandcanvas.co.uk. If you have questions about which Malabrigo yarn suits your project, ring us on 01422 648299 or email hello@craftandcanvas.co.uk — we know this range well and are happy to help.
Frequently asked questions
Do you stock Malabrigo yarn in the UK? Yes — we stock Malabrigo Rios, Arroyo, Ultimate Sock, and Susurro at Craft and Canvas in Hebden Bridge, available in store and online at craftandcanvas.co.uk with UK delivery.
How much does Malabrigo yarn cost? All four Malabrigo yarns we stock are £14.95 per 100g skein.
What is the difference between Malabrigo Rios and Arroyo? Rios is worsted weight — thicker, faster to knit, suited to sweaters, hats, and blankets. Arroyo is sport weight — finer, with more metres per skein, better suited to garments requiring more detail, colourwork, and lace.
Is Malabrigo yarn machine washable? Rios, Arroyo, and Ultimate Sock are all superwash treated and machine washable on a gentle cool cycle. Susurro contains silk and linen and requires hand washing in cold water.
Can I buy Malabrigo yarn near Leeds or Manchester? We are the nearest stockist to both cities — around 45 minutes from Leeds and 55 minutes from Manchester. We also offer UK delivery from craftandcanvas.co.uk.
Why is Malabrigo yarn so popular? Malabrigo hand-dyes all yarns in small batches in Uruguay, producing colour depth and complexity that commercial yarn brands cannot replicate. Their colourways have a devoted following worldwide and certain shades sell out quickly when available.