The Secret to a Forever-Fresh Malabrigo Rasta Knit: Care Tips for Pilling, Fuzz, and Dye Bleed

Common Questions About Malabrigo Rasta (and Honest Answers)

Let’s walk through the real questions knitters ask about Rasta and what you can actually do about them.

1. Does Malabrigo Rasta pill?

Short answer: Yes, it can. That’s normal for soft, single-ply merino. But you can manage it.

Why Rasta pills and fuzzes: Soft merino + single-ply construction + everyday friction (coats, straps, collars, seatbelts) = pills and fuzz, especially on high-contact areas like the back of the neck and under jacket collars.

How to reduce pilling from the start

• Knit Rasta at a slightly firmer gauge.
  Use the tighter end of the recommended needle range for accessories. If the label suggests something like US 13–17, aim around US 13–15 for hats and mitts. A snugger fabric supports itself better and pills less.
• Pick the right kind of projects.
  Rasta shines in hats, cowls, scarves, shawls/wraps, short cozy cardigans/shrugs, and home accessories that don’t get constant rubbing.
  It’s less ideal for heavy-duty everyday mittens, under-coat sweaters mashed by straps and zippers, or kid garments that get dragged through hard wear.
• Be gentle in the early days.
  The first few wears are the “getting to know you” phase. Try not to debut your fresh Rasta hat under a rough backpack strap.

How to safely de-pill Rasta

• Never pull pills off with your fingers—this can drag more fibers free and create thin spots.
• Instead, use a sweater stone or sweater comb, a fabric shaver on the gentlest setting, or sharp, small scissors (embroidery scissors) to carefully snip pills at the surface.
• Lay your project flat, support the fabric with your hand, and go slowly.

2. Why is my Malabrigo Rasta so thick and thin? Did I get a bad skein?

Short answer: Slight thick-and-thin is normal for Rasta. Only truly weak spots need fixing.

Rasta is single-ply, hand-dyed, and lightly felted. That usually comes with a bit of personality—small ups and downs in thickness along the strand. From six inches away, you notice every change. From three feet away, your eye reads it as cozy texture and character.

When to ignore it

• The thinner section still feels sturdy.
• It’s a short stretch, not half the skein.
• The surrounding fabric looks even overall.

When to fix it (and how)

If a spot feels noticeably weak, stringy, or like it might break, you have options:

1. Spit-splice / felt-splice (ideal for Rasta)
   
   • Gently pull the yarn apart at the weak point so you have two clean ends.
   • Overlap the ends by a few inches.
   • Wet them with water (or spit, if you’re a traditionalist).
   • Rub briskly between your palms until they felt together into one strand.

   You’ll get a smooth, nearly invisible join with no knots.

2. Double-strand briefly
   
   • Knit 1–2 stitches holding two strands together (pull a small loop of extra yarn from the skein).
   • Then drop the extra strand and continue with a single strand.
3. Cut out a bad section and rejoin
   
   • Cut out the questionable bit.
   • Rejoin with a spit-splice, Russian join, or by knitting in the new strand and weaving in ends neatly.

Tension matters more than perfection. With Rasta, consistent tension beats chasing every millimeter of thickness. Try not to “punish” thin spots by pulling tighter; that exaggerates the difference.

3. Does Malabrigo Rasta bleed? Will the color run?

Short answer: Some colors can bleed a bit—especially dark and saturated shades. You can plan for it and protect your project.

This is called crocking (rub-off) and bleeding (dye in water). It’s common in deeply saturated, hand-dyed yarns from many brands, not just Malabrigo.

Before you knit (especially for high-contrast projects)

• Test a snippet: Soak a small piece in cool water with a drop of wool wash, then blot on a white paper towel. If the towel picks up color, plan to wash finished items gently and separately.
• For very dark against very light: consider pre-soaking the darkest skein(s) in cool water with a color-catcher sheet, then lay flat to dry fully before winding and knitting.

How to wash Malabrigo Rasta to minimize bleeding

• Always use cool or cold water.
• Add a color catcher for the first wash, especially with dark blues, reds, purples, and blacks, or high-contrast colorwork.
• Use a gentle wool wash; skip harsh detergents.
• Wash the item alone for the first few washes.
• Gently press out water (no wringing), roll in a towel, and lay flat to dry.

4. Can I machine wash Malabrigo Rasta? Is it superwash?

Short answer: No and no. Rasta is not superwash. Hand wash only.

• Hand wash in cool water.
• Use a gentle wool wash.
• Lay flat to dry, fully supported.
• Keep it far away from the dryer unless you are felting on purpose.

5. Does Malabrigo Rasta stretch or shrink? How should I block it?

Short answer: Rasta will relax and bloom a bit when wet; if you’re gentle, it won’t stretch out of control.

Best blocking practices for Rasta

• Always block a swatch first for hats and garments: wash it exactly how you’ll wash the finished piece, dry flat, and measure afterwards for true post-wash gauge.
• For hats and cowls: soak gently, press out water, and shape lightly on a towel. (For hats, a small bowl or balloon can help form the crown.)
• For long or heavy items: dry flat and fully supported. Don’t hang wet Rasta—gravity will make it grow in directions you didn’t intend.

6. What are the best projects for Malabrigo Rasta?

Short answer: Make it your go-to for quick, cozy, statement pieces.

Rasta-friendly project ideas

• Hats (beanies, slouchy hats, brimmed hats)
• Cowls (close-fitting, single loop, or big dramatic cowls)
• Scarves (short chunky scarves, keyhole scarves)
• Shawls and wraps (fast, warm, bold)
• Short cardigans and shrugs
• Home décor (throws in gentle-use areas, accent pillows, decorative baskets)

Projects to think twice about

• High-abuse mittens and workwear.
• Kids’ snow gear and “play hard” garments.
• Socks or slippers (unless you want them to felt).

7. Why does my Rasta project eat yarn so fast? How much do I need?

Short answer: Super-bulky yarn uses a lot of yardage quickly. That’s normal.

Typical Malabrigo Rasta yardage (rough estimates)

• 1 skein: most adult hats, many cowls
• 2–3 skeins: large cowls, shawlettes, short vests or shrugs
• 4+ skeins: larger shawls, cardigans, throws

Tips to avoid yarn chicken

• Check the pattern’s yardage requirement against your skein yardage.
• Remember: looser knitters often use more yarn.
• Swatching gives you a reality check before you’re three-quarters through a hat.

Best joining methods for Rasta

• Spit-splice / felt-splice – ideal for Rasta’s lightly felted merino.
• Russian join – secure and great if you hate weaving ends.
• Overlap join – knit a few stitches with old and new yarn held together, then weave in ends carefully so they disappear in the thickness.