Cascade 220 vs Malabrigo Rios: Length, Gauge and Care Before Substitution

Malabrigo Rios is worth testing against a Cascade 220 pattern, but the two are not verified equivalents. Both are listed as worsted wool yarns in 100 g hanks. They differ in wool description, length and published gauge; Cascade 220 also explicitly requires hand washing. Decide whether those differences fit the project before buying the replacement quantity.

Compare the exact yarns

Sources: Cascade 220 and Malabrigo Rios, checked 25 October 2026. This comparison concerns original Cascade 220, not another product in the Cascade family. Rios lists 18–22 stitches per 4 inches; multiplying by 10 ÷ 10.16 gives the displayed metric range. No row gauge is supplied in these specification lists.

The overlapping range is a reason to test

The ranges overlap, which makes a sample worthwhile. It does not establish that either yarn will produce the same fabric at a particular stitch count. A yarn's published range is not your washed result in the garment's stitch pattern.

For this comparison, keep a row-gauge measurement in your notes instead of inventing one from the labels. If a pattern relies on counted rows for shaping, matching width alone leaves an unanswered question. If it tells you to work to a measured length, you still need to follow its shaping instructions accurately.

Equal hank weight does not preserve length

Consider a hypothetical pattern allowance of five Cascade 220 hanks. Its nominal length is 5 × 200 = 1,000 m. Matching that allowance with Rios gives 1,000 ÷ 192 = 5.2083…, rounded up to 6 whole hanks.

The five-hank allowance is an example, not a real pattern recommendation. The lengths are manufacturer figures. This is a length comparison only: it cannot predict yarn consumption after a change of gauge or design.

Settle care before calling the swap successful

Cascade's page says hand wash cold and lay flat to dry. Rios is described as superwash merino. Those descriptions are not identical care instructions, and the word “superwash” alone should not become an invented drying instruction. Follow the current label for the yarn actually used.

Our editorial recommendation is to finish the sample using that care routine, then check its dimensions and fabric again. A useful substitution record should name the exact yarn, not merely say “100 g wool.” Keep its label with the project so the eventual recipient has the right care information.

See the comparison chart for the source specifications and the main substitution guide for a sample-record checklist.