Cosmo Embroidery Floss

168

Blues family

Cosmo 168 is a dark, moderately saturated blue shade with hex code #282B54 and RGB values 40, 43, 84. Below you'll find the closest Valdani, Crescent Colours, and DMC equivalents — ranked by visual color similarity — plus 8 similar Cosmo shades and color harmony pairings.

Hex
#282B54
RGB
40, 43, 84
HSL
236°, 35%, 24%
Lab
19.3, 11.6, -25.5
Lightness
24%
Dark
Saturation
35%
Muted
Hue
236°
Family
Blues

Brand Equivalents for Cosmo 168

Top 5 closest matches in each brand, ranked by visual color similarity. How matching works

Cosmo 168

Sullivans

Navy Blue 45069 81% Good
Baby Blue Ultra Very Dark 45494 79% Approx
Cornflower Blue Medium Dark 45473 72% Approx
Navy Blue Medium 45054 72% Approx
Blue Very Dark 45225 70% Approx

Crescent Colours

Granny Annie 083 57% Fair
Purple Aster 070 52% Fair
Wavy Navy 075 46% Fair
Tartan Plaid 073 39% Fair
Blooming Crocus 032 35% Fair

Similar Cosmo Colors to 168

Closest Cosmo threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.

Working with Cosmo 168

On white fabric
13.4:1
On dark fabric
1.6:1
Temperature
cool
Closest to
navy

It pops on white and light fabric but nearly disappears on black, so pair it with a light or neutral ground.

Blending & gradients

Because Cosmo 667A is so near (ΔE 0.89), the pair makes a natural two-step gradient — handy for shading skin, petals, or skies without a hard seam.

Color Harmonies for Cosmo 168

Cosmo threads that pair well with 168, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.

Complementary
Opposite on the color wheel — maximum contrast
Analogous
Adjacent hues — smooth, natural transitions
Triadic
Evenly spaced at 120° — vibrant and balanced
Monochromatic
Same hue, different lightness — great for shading

Blues Family

Cosmo 168 in context with nearby shades from the blues color family.

About Cosmo 168

A moderately saturated, dark member of the blues family, Cosmo 168 is a hand-dyed floss with true blue tones. Its bold and dramatic presence shines in whale designs and sapphire accents alike. Pull this thread for porcelain patterns or hydrangea blooms when you need a dependable shade.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Cosmo 168 look like?

Cosmo 168 is a dark shade in the blues family with hex #282B54 and RGB 40, 43, 84. Stitchers reach for it in projects featuring cool-toned backgrounds and nautical themes.

Which DMC thread matches Cosmo 168?

The closest DMC match for Cosmo 168 is DMC 336 (Navy Blue) with a 84% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include DMC 158 (Cornflower Blue medium, 82%) and DMC 791 (Cornflower Blue very dark, 81%).

What Cosmo colors are similar to 168?

The closest Cosmo threads to 168 are 667A (ΔE 0.89), 218 (ΔE 2.12), and 668 (ΔE 2.31). These are useful substitutes when 168 is unavailable or for building gradients.

When should I use Cosmo 168?

Reach for Cosmo 168 when your project calls for cool-toned backgrounds, nautical themes, winter scenes, forget-me-nots. Its dark character carries both small accents and wider palette work; the harmony picks on this page show natural companions to 168.

What fabric color works best with Cosmo 168?

It pops on white and light fabric but nearly disappears on black, so pair it with a light or neutral ground. For reference, 168 has a contrast ratio of about 13.4:1 on white fabric and 1.6:1 on black. As a cool shade, its cool cast recedes visually — useful for backgrounds, shadows, water and sky, and calm, restful palettes.