Superwash merino keeps the hand smooth and comfortable for socks, gloves, cowls and lightweight layers.
Hand-dyed fingering yarn · soft enough to love, strong enough to wear
Malabrigo Ultimate Sock: merino softness with sock-worthy strength
A beautifully hand-dyed 4 ply yarn that combines soft superwash merino with 25% nylon—giving socks, accessories and lightweight garments the colour, stitch definition and durability they deserve.
- 75% superwash merino feels comfortable against the skin.
- 25% nylon adds resilience for heels, toes and other high-friction areas.
- 385 metres per 100g hank gives generous fingering-weight yardage.
- Hand-dyed Malabrigo colour brings layered tonal depth to every project.
100g · 385m · fingering / 4 ply
75 / 25Superwash merino / nylon
100gHand-dyed hank
385m420 yards
2.25–3.25mmRecommended needles
The beauty of Malabrigo Sock—strengthened for the work socks actually do
Merino gives this yarn its softness, warmth and expressive colour. Nylon reinforces the fibre structure so finished pieces cope better with rubbing, stretching and repeated wear.
The 25% nylon content adds useful durability at heels, toes, cuffs, elbows and other hard-working areas.
A smooth 4-ply construction shows off ribbing, cables, lace and textured stitches while letting the colour remain the star.
The key difference: Malabrigo's classic Sock base is 100% superwash merino and is wonderful for shawls and garments. Ultimate Sock adds 25% nylon, making it the stronger choice when you are actually knitting socks or another high-friction project.
One-skein sock potential
Fine, comfortable fabric with enough resilience for everyday wear
At 385 metres per 100g, one hank is commonly enough for a standard pair of adult socks. Your pattern, size, gauge, leg length, cables and matching requirements will decide the final amount.
- Excellent for ribbed, textured and lace socks
- Soft enough for next-to-skin accessories
- Nylon reinforcement throughout the yarn—not just at the heel
- Machine washable on a cold, gentle cycle
One versatile fingering yarn, many beautiful possibilities
Socks
Everyday, boot, lace, ribbed and cabled socks where merino comfort and nylon strength work together.
Shawls & wraps
Generous metreage and luminous hand-dyed colour suit lace, texture, fades and colour-blocked designs.
Light garments
Fine-gauge cardigans, pullovers, tees and layering pieces that benefit from softness and shape resilience.
Gloves & mitts
Warm, close-fitting accessories that see plenty of friction and repeated movement.
Hats & cowls
Comfortable next-to-skin pieces with crisp ribbing, cables and colourwork.
Baby & child knits
Lightweight garments and accessories where easy care is helpful—always follow the pattern and care label.
Crochet
Fine motifs, lightweight accessories and garments using a 2.25–3.5mm hook or the size required for gauge.
Colourwork
Combine tonal shades or use a variegated colourway against a calm contrast, swatching to check clarity.
Ten Malabrigo colourways, from glowing gold to deep ocean blue
Choose tonal colour for quiet depth or variegated colour for movement across every stitch. Each image is a guide: the beauty of hand dyeing means your own hank will be individually nuanced.
013 OroBright golden-yellow tonal
033 CerezaDeep cherry and burgundy tonal
212 GrisLayered medium-grey tonal
252 Wabi-SabiDeep teal and dark green tonal
362 Under the SeaDeep, inky ocean blue
363 PascalSage through forest-green tonal
416 IndiecitaForest green and slate-blue variegated
658 ZinniasVibrant orange-red variegated
689 ValentinaRich indigo-blue tonal
696 Whole GrainNatural tan and warm-brown tonal
Hand-dyed colour note: photographs show the character of each colourway, not an exact repeatable shade. Skeins can differ within one dye lot as well as between dye lots, and screens display colour differently.
Three simple habits for working with hand-dyed yarn
Order enough together
Estimate from your pattern, allow a sensible margin and buy the project quantity at one time. The same colourway can look noticeably different in a later dye lot.
Compare before winding
Lay every hank together in natural light. Arrange them in a pleasing order and keep labels until you know the project quantity and shades are right.
Alternate skeins
For multi-skein projects, work a few rows from one skein and then a few from another. This distributes natural variation instead of creating a hard colour change.
Supplied as a hank: wind the yarn into a ball or cake before knitting or crocheting. Do not work directly from the opened hank—it can quickly become tangled.
How many 100g hanks might you need?
These are starting points, not pattern requirements. Always use the metreage in your chosen pattern and adjust for size, sleeve or leg length, stitch pattern, gauge and colour matching.
| Project | Typical starting estimate | Plan extra when… |
|---|---|---|
| Adult ankle or standard socks | Often 1 hank | The size is large, the leg is tall, the pattern is heavily cabled or you need an exact colour repeat |
| Long socks or knee-highs | Usually 2 hanks | The leg is shaped, highly textured or generously sized |
| Hat, mitts or small cowl | Often 1 hank | You are making a matching set, double-layer fabric or complex colourwork |
| Small shawl or scarf | 1–2 hanks | You want a larger wingspan, deep border, fringe or dense crochet fabric |
| Large shawl or wrap | 2–4 hanks | The design is oversized, heavily textured or uses multiple colours |
| Baby or child garment | 2–4 hanks | The size, sleeves, hood, length or stitch pattern requires more |
| Adult lightweight garment | 4–8+ hanks | The size is larger, fit is relaxed, sleeves are long or the garment has cables/colourwork |
Choose the fibre blend for the way the project will be worn
| Consideration | Malabrigo Ultimate Sock | Typical pure-merino fingering yarn |
|---|---|---|
| Fibre balance | 75% superwash merino / 25% nylon | Usually 100% merino wool |
| Best strength | Abrasion resistance and resilience for high-friction wear | Maximum wool content, softness and drape |
| Socks | Purpose-designed and recommended by Malabrigo | Possible, but usually less abrasion resistant without reinforcement |
| Shawls and garments | Beautiful colour with extra shape recovery and durability | Excellent when pure-wool hand and drape are the priority |
| Care | Cold gentle machine wash; dry flat | Depends on the base and whether it is superwash |
Malabrigo Ultimate Sock at a glance
| Brand | Malabrigo |
|---|---|
| Yarn range | Ultimate Sock |
| Yarn weight | Fingering / NZ 4 ply |
| Texture | Smooth 4-ply construction |
| Fibre content | 75% superwash merino wool, 25% nylon |
| Hank weight | 100g / 3.53oz |
| Length | Approximately 385m / 420yd |
| Knitting gauge | 30–32 stitches per 10cm / 4in |
| Recommended needles | 2.25–3.25mm / US 1–3, or the size required to achieve pattern gauge |
| Recommended crochet hook | 2.25–3.5mm / US B-1 to E-4, or the size required for the desired fabric |
| Construction | Hand-dyed hank; wind before use |
| Recommended projects | Socks and garments or accessories subject to friction; also suitable for shawls, colourwork and fine crochet |
| Care | Machine wash cold on a gentle cycle; do not tumble dry; dry flat |
| Colour character | Hand-dyed tonal and variegated colourways; every hank is individual |
Keep the colour and fabric looking beautiful
Use a gentle machine cycle in cold water with a mild wool-friendly detergent.
Reshape the finished piece and lay it flat away from harsh heat or direct sunlight.
Malabrigo specifically advises against tumble drying this yarn.
Make sure the project is completely dry, then store clean and protected from moths.
For the first wash: wash separately and follow the official cold, gentle-care instructions. Deeply saturated hand-dyed colours and contrasting colourwork deserve a tested swatch.
Needles, patterns and specialist sock tools
All knitting needles
Shop circular, double-pointed, interchangeable and fixed needles in the size your pattern requires.
Browse Knitting NeedlesChiaoGoo sock DPN set
A dedicated stainless-steel double-pointed set for fine sock knitting and small circumferences.
View the Sock DPN SetKnitting patterns
Choose a 4 ply/fingering pattern, then match its gauge and required metreage to your size.
Browse Knitting PatternsMalabrigo Ultimate Sock questions answered
What yarn weight is Malabrigo Ultimate Sock?
It is fingering weight, commonly called 4 ply in New Zealand. Malabrigo also describes the yarn texture as a four-ply construction.
What is Malabrigo Ultimate Sock made from?
It is 75% superwash merino wool and 25% nylon.
How much yarn is in one hank?
Each hank weighs 100g and contains approximately 385 metres or 420 yards.
Is one hank enough for a pair of adult socks?
One hank is commonly enough for a standard adult pair, but size, leg length, gauge, cables and matching requirements all affect usage. Follow your chosen pattern metreage.
When should I buy two hanks for socks?
Choose two for large sizes, knee-highs, long legs, heavily cabled designs, generous swatching or when you want extra control over colour matching.
Why does Ultimate Sock contain nylon?
Nylon improves abrasion resistance and resilience, especially at heels, toes and other areas that rub during wear.
Is the yarn still soft with nylon in it?
Yes. Superwash merino makes up 75% of the blend, giving the yarn a soft hand suitable for socks and many next-to-skin accessories.
How is Ultimate Sock different from Malabrigo Sock?
Classic Malabrigo Sock is 100% superwash merino. Ultimate Sock adds 25% nylon, making it the more durable option for actual socks and other high-friction garments.
What needle size should I use?
Malabrigo recommends 2.25–3.25mm needles. Use the size that gives your pattern gauge and the fabric density you want.
What crochet-hook size should I use?
Malabrigo recommends 2.25–3.5mm hooks as a starting range. Lace and drapey projects may call for a larger hook, so follow the pattern.
What is the recommended knitting gauge?
The official gauge range is 30–32 stitches per 10cm or 4 inches. Sock patterns may specify a particular gauge within or near that range.
Can I crochet with Ultimate Sock?
Yes. It works well for fine crochet accessories, garments and motifs, as well as crochet socks when used with a suitable pattern and dense enough fabric.
Is Ultimate Sock only for socks?
No. It is also suitable for shawls, wraps, gloves, hats, cowls, lightweight garments, colourwork and fine crochet.
Is it suitable for baby garments?
It can be used for lightweight baby and child garments where the pattern calls for fingering yarn. Check skin sensitivity and follow the cold gentle-wash instructions.
Can I use it for a lightweight sweater?
Yes. Swatch and wash the swatch first, then buy the full pattern metreage together with an allowance for size and hand-dyed variation.
Does it show cables and texture clearly?
Yes. The smooth four-ply construction gives clear stitch definition. Tonal shades generally show intricate texture more quietly than highly variegated shades.
Is it good for colourwork?
Yes. Pair colours with enough light/dark contrast and swatch first. A tonal shade often provides a calm background for a lively variegated colourway.
Is the yarn hand dyed?
Yes. Hand dyeing creates the layered tonal and variegated character that makes Malabrigo distinctive, and it also means every hank is individual.
Will my hank look exactly like the photograph?
No photograph can guarantee an exact match. Hand-dyed yarn varies naturally, and screen settings can also change how the colour appears.
What is a dye lot?
A dye lot identifies yarn dyed and grouped in the same batch. Even within one lot, hand-dyed skeins may show visible differences.
Why should I buy enough yarn at once?
A later dye lot may be subtly or dramatically different. Buying the full project quantity together gives you the best opportunity to blend compatible hanks.
Why should I alternate skeins?
Changing between two hanks every few rows distributes their natural variation and helps avoid an abrupt band where one skein ends and another begins.
Do I need to alternate skeins for one-skein socks?
Not usually. For a pair, many knitters divide the hank into two balls before starting so each sock receives a similar amount of yarn.
Can variegated colours pool or stripe?
Yes. The way colours pool depends on stitch count, circumference, gauge and stitch pattern. Swatching helps reveal the likely effect.
Does the yarn come ready to knit?
It is supplied as a hank. Wind it into a ball or cake before use; knitting directly from an opened hank risks tangling.
Is Ultimate Sock machine washable?
Yes. Malabrigo specifies a gentle machine cycle in cold water.
Can I tumble dry it?
No. Malabrigo says not to tumble dry. Reshape the item after washing and dry it flat.
Should I wash a swatch?
Yes, especially for garments, colourwork and fitted socks. Washing shows the final gauge, fabric feel and any colour interaction before you commit.
Can I substitute it for another 4 ply sock yarn?
Often, provided the pattern gauge, fibre behaviour and metreage are compatible. Compare metres per 100g and make a washed swatch rather than relying only on the “4 ply” label.
Can I hold two strands together?
Yes. Two strands can create a heavier fabric, but the resulting weight and gauge depend on your needles and tension. Swatch before substituting into a DK-style pattern.
Which Direct Sewing colours are listed?
Oro, Cereza, Gris, Wabi-Sabi, Under the Sea, Pascal, Indiecita, Zinnias, Valentina and Whole Grain. Current availability is shown in the colour selector above the product description.
How should I store leftover yarn?
Keep it clean, dry and protected from moths, ideally with the original label showing the colour code and dye lot.
Where can I find suitable needles and patterns?
Direct Sewing carries fine circular and double-pointed needles, sock-needle sets and 4 ply knitting patterns. Choose tools and metreage from your specific pattern.
Choose the shade that makes you want to knit the next row
From luminous Oro to ocean-deep Under the Sea, Ultimate Sock brings together Malabrigo's expressive colour, merino comfort and the nylon strength that hard-working projects need.