We’re delighted to welcome Malabrigo Yarns back to space!
This family-owned yarn company started in 2005 in Montevideo, Uruguay, with two brothers-in-law dyeing yarns in an old kitchen pot. First marketed in the US, their gorgeous colorways, kettle-dyed on soft Uruguayan Merino wool, swiftly captured the interest of knitters worldwide as part of the early 00’s crafting revival that also saw the launch of viral knitting icons like Ravelry and Debbie Stoller’s Stitch n’ Bitch. (fibre space™ owner Danielle remembers excitedly ordering a blanket quantity of Malabrigo’s original single-ply yarn years before opening the shop!)
From the beginning, Malabrigo has provided job opportunities to underprivileged members of its community, employing a workforce mainly composed of women of all ages. Now producing their yarns at a larger facility in Peru to meet demand (where they also make yarns for the recently acquired brand Blue Sky Fibers), Malabrigo mitigates the environmental impact of their yarns by limiting chemical use, reducing water use, and complying with OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 and REACH 1907/2006 regulations. (Fun fact: The mill is apparently haunted by a ghost that the staff named “Pancho”.)
Most of Malabrigo’s yarns are made from 100% Uruguayan Merino wool, prized worldwide for its high quality and softness. Sourced from farms that provide their sheep with free-range seasonal pasturage overseen by traditional-style shepherds, Malabrigo’s wool (like all Uruguayan wool!) is 100% mulesing-free, thanks to Uruguay’s cool, dry climate and industry commitment to ethical sheep production.
DK-weight Arroyo and worsted-weight Rios (shown above) have just arrived in our Alexandria shop—these soft and sturdy workhorse yarns are both machine-washable, perfect for practical yet colorful sweaters, children’s wear, baby blankets, and everything else you can dream up.
Stay tuned! We’ll be profiling each of these gorgeous yarns and sharing our pattern picks later this week!
