Malabrigo Nube Merino Wool Roving

Spinners asked and Malabrigo listened! Their ultra-soft 100% merino yarn is now available as unspun top, in a selection of their most beloved colorways. It is truly a joy to spin, full of fluff and loft and unmatched softness! Of course, you can also knit with the roving itself for a uniquely fluffy effect, or use it for thrums or needle-felting.

  • Weight: Roving
  • Texture: Spinning fiber
  • Yardage/Meters: 5y (4.6m)
  • Weight: 113 grams (3.99 ounces)
  • Content: 100% Merino Wool.
  • Cares: Hand Wash, cold water.

Malabrigo Nube: Merino Roving Made for Spinning

Spinners asked, and Malabrigo listened. Malabrigo Nube takes the ultra-soft 100% merino wool that knitters have adored for years and offers it as unspun top, in a selection of the brand's most beloved colorways. We've been a fixture in the fiber arts world since 1997, and we get genuinely excited about fiber this lovely. Nube is a pure joy to spin, full of fluff and loft and that unmatched Malabrigo softness, so whether you're a seasoned spinner or just learning to draft, this is the kind of top that makes the whole process feel effortless. We're family owned and operated, and we don't stock scratchy, lifeless fiber. Nube earns its place on our shelves.

And spinning isn't the only way to enjoy it. The roving is gorgeous worked straight off the braid for a uniquely fluffy effect, and it's wonderful for thrums in cozy mittens or for needle felting projects too.

Why Spinners Love Malabrigo Nube

There's a reason this Malabrigo Nube top has such a devoted following. It pairs the famous hand-dyed Malabrigo color depth with fiber that's an absolute pleasure to work. A few reasons it flies off our shelves:

  • 100% merino wool, prized for its softness and easy, lofty draft.
  • Beloved Malabrigo colorways, with the same rich tonal variation that made the brand a household name.
  • Versatile, since you can spin it, knit it straight from the braid, thrum with it, or needle felt.
  • Family owned and operated, not bought up by a private equity firm like so many of our competitors have been lately.
  • Fast same-day shipping on most orders, with free shipping when you spend $99 or more.

Our expert spinners work with fiber like this every day and are always happy to help you pick colorways or talk technique. Every purchase also helps us support local farms and Freddy's Dog Rescue, so a little extra good rides along with your order.

Malabrigo Nube Details and Care

Here are the specifics so you know exactly what you're getting with each braid of Nube:

  • Weight: Roving / spinning fiber.
  • Yardage: 5 yards (4.6 meters).
  • Skein weight: 113 grams (3.99 ounces).
  • Content: 100% merino wool.
  • Care: Hand wash in cold water.

Because Nube is pure untreated merino, it spins, felts, and thrums beautifully, but it will felt if agitated in warm water, so gentle hand washing in cold keeps your finished pieces at their best.

Shop Malabrigo Nube Online or Visit Us in Spokane

Our shop lives in a restored historic bakery in Spokane, four floors and 27,500 square feet of fiber heaven where you can see the Nube colorways in person before you commit. Come browse and feel the fiber for yourself, or shop the full selection of Malabrigo Nube online from anywhere. We ship worldwide, and our friendly crew is just a chat bubble away whenever you have a question.

Frequently Asked Questions

Nube is actually a lovely fiber for newer spinners, because the merino is soft, lofty, and drafts smoothly, which makes the learning process more forgiving and enjoyable. The main thing to know is that fine merino has a relatively short staple length and likes a bit of twist, so very new spinners sometimes practice their draft on a sturdier wool first, then graduate to Nube once they have the feel for it. If you tell us where you are in your spinning journey, we're happy to recommend the right starting fiber and technique tips.

Quite a lot, which is part of its charm. Beyond spinning, you can knit or weave directly with the unspun roving for a soft, fluffy texture, use small lengths as thrums to make extra-cozy lined mittens and hats, or felt it for needle felting and wet felting projects. Its softness and rich color make it a versatile braid to have on hand, so even if you buy it to spin, you may find yourself reaching for it in other projects.

The big difference is that Nube is unspun top, meaning it's the fiber stage before it becomes yarn, whereas the Malabrigo yarns you know are already spun and ready to knit. It uses the same beloved 100% merino and the same hand-dyed colorways, so the softness and color depth feel familiar, but Nube lets you spin your own custom yarn or work with the fiber in its fluffy, pre-yarn form. Think of it as the same Malabrigo magic at an earlier, more flexible stage.

Yes, and that's worth knowing up front, since Nube is pure untreated merino and will felt when exposed to warm water, friction, and agitation. That's exactly what makes it wonderful for needle felting and thrums, but it means any finished yarn or knitted piece should be hand washed gently in cold water to preserve it. As long as you avoid hot water and rough handling for items you don't want felted, your projects will stay soft and intact.

Each braid weighs 113 grams (just under 4 ounces), and how many you need depends on what you're making and your spinning approach, since finished yardage varies with how fine or thick you spin. For small projects like thrums, a single braid goes a long way, while spinning enough yarn for a larger garment will take several braids. If you let us know your project and target yarn weight, our spinners can help you estimate how much to buy so you don't run short partway through.