Malabrigo Sock vs Rios: Which Yarn Is Right for Your Project?

Malabrigo Sock and Rios are two of the most popular Malabrigo yarns we stock, and it’s easy to see why. They both have that beautiful hand-dyed colour Malabrigo is known for, and both are lovely and soft to work with.

They are, however, quite different yarns.

Sock is a fine 4 ply with plenty of metreage, while Rios is a thicker 10 ply that gives you a warmer, more substantial fabric. Which one is right for you really comes down to what you’re making.

The quick answer

If your pattern calls for 4 ply or fingering weight, Malabrigo Sock is the one to look at. It’s great for shawls, lighter garments, scarves and finer accessories.

If your pattern calls for 10 ply or worsted weight, Rios is likely to be the better fit. It works especially well for jumpers and cardigans, beanies, scarves and blankets.

If yarn weights still feel a little confusing, our guide to what ply yarn you need might help too.

Malabrigo Sock vs Rios at a glance

As always, it’s worth checking the tension and yarn weight your pattern calls for before making a substitution.

Malabrigo Sock

Despite the name, Sock is useful for a lot more than socks.

With around 402 metres in a 100g skein, it’s a lovely choice when you want something fine and soft without the project feeling too heavy. We particularly like it for shawls, scarves, lightweight garments, colourwork and accessories.

It’s 100% superwash merino, so it feels beautiful against the skin. You can certainly use it for socks too, although because there’s no nylon in the blend, it won’t be quite as hard-wearing as some more traditional sock yarns.

See our Malabrigo Sock colours, or browse our other 3–4 ply yarns.

Malabrigo Rios

Rios is the chunkier of the two, sitting at around 192 metres per 100g skein.

It’s a 10 ply / worsted-weight superwash merino and a really versatile yarn for anything where you want a bit more warmth and substance. Jumpers, cardigans, beanies, scarves and blankets are all good fits.

It’s also one of those yarns that’s simply very satisfying to work with. Soft, squishy and substantial without feeling overly bulky.

See our Malabrigo Rios colours, or have a look through our 10 ply yarns.

A note about Malabrigo colour

One of the lovely things about Malabrigo is that the yarn is hand dyed, but that also means one skein can look slightly different from the next.

If you’re making something larger, it’s a good idea to buy enough for the whole project at once where possible.

For garments or bigger pieces, you can also alternate between two skeins every few rows. It helps blend any small colour differences and can make variegated shades sit more evenly.

Can you substitute Sock for Rios?

Not really.

Sock is a 4 ply yarn and Rios is a 10 ply, so they’ll give you a very different fabric and won’t usually work as a straight swap.

If you’re substituting yarn, the main things to compare are the yarn weight, tension, recommended needle or hook size and total metreage. For garments in particular, a tension swatch is well worth doing before you get too far in.

You can browse our full Malabrigo range to see what we currently have in store.

And if you’re stuck between the two, bring your pattern into the shop or send it through to us. We’re always happy to have a look and point you in the right direction.

A few common questions

Is Malabrigo Sock only for socks?

No. We probably see it used just as often for shawls, scarves, lighter garments and accessories.

Is Malabrigo Rios good for beginners?

Yes. Because it’s a thicker yarn, you can see your project growing fairly quickly, which makes it a nice choice for things like scarves, beanies and cowls.

Are Malabrigo Sock and Rios machine washable?

Both are made from superwash merino. We’d still recommend following the care instructions on the label and being a little gentle with hand-dyed pieces to help keep them looking their best.