Cosmo Embroidery Floss

286

Purples family

Need details on Cosmo 286? This medium-dark, moderately saturated purple hand-dyed shade is hex #4D2A68, RGB 77, 42, 104. Cross-brand equivalents in Anchor, Madeira, and J&P Coates are listed below — ranked by perceptual similarity — alongside 8 nearby Cosmo shades and color-theory harmony pairings.

Hex
#4D2A68
RGB
77, 42, 104
HSL
274°, 42%, 29%
Lab
24.4, 29.0, -30.2
Lightness
29%
Dark
Saturation
42%
Muted
Hue
274°
Family
Purples

Brand Equivalents for Cosmo 286

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

Cosmo 286

Sullivans

Violet Medium 45124 88% Good
Lavender Ultra Dark 45435 73% Approx
Violet 45065 73% Approx
Violet 45125 62% Fair
Lavender Very Dark 45040 58% Fair

Crescent Colours

Boysenberry Jam 049 43% Fair
Pansy Purple 102 43% Fair
Rainy Day 103 41% Fair
Granny Annie 083 39% Fair
Blooming Crocus 032 36% Fair

Similar Cosmo Colors to 286

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

Working with Cosmo 286

On white fabric
11.4:1
On dark fabric
1.8:1
Temperature
cool
Closest to
indigo

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

Blending & gradients

Cosmo 286 sits a hair from Cosmo 287A (ΔE 1.2) — close enough to blend a strand of each for a smooth gradient or to swap one for the other in a pinch.

Color Harmonies for Cosmo 286

Cosmo threads that pair well with 286, 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

Purples Family

Cosmo 286 in context with nearby shades from the purples color family.

About Cosmo 286

Cosmo 286 sits in the purples family as a medium-dark, moderately saturated shade with true purple tones. With a rich and grounded quality, this thread works beautifully in plum themes and lilac patterns. You will find this color at home in patterns featuring galaxy motifs and lavender fields.

Frequently Asked Questions

Cosmo 286 — what color is it?

Cosmo 286 is a medium-dark purple thread (hex #4D2A68, RGB 77, 42, 104). It shows up most in grape clusters and wisteria.

What is the DMC equivalent of Cosmo 286?

The closest DMC match for Cosmo 286 is DMC 327 (Violet) with a 68% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include DMC 333 (Blue Violet very dark, 67%) and DMC 550 (Violet very dark, 65%).

Which Cosmo threads are close to 286?

The closest Cosmo threads to 286 are 287A (ΔE 1.2), 266 (ΔE 2.7), and 285 (ΔE 6.77). These are useful substitutes when 286 is unavailable or for building gradients.

What is Cosmo 286 good for?

Cosmo 286 is commonly used in cross-stitch projects featuring grape clusters, wisteria, amethyst tones, iris blooms. Its medium-dark tone works well for standalone motifs and as part of larger palettes. This page includes color harmonies and similar shades to pair with 286.

What fabric color works best with Cosmo 286?

It pops on white and light fabric but nearly disappears on black, so pair it with a light or neutral ground. For reference, 286 has a contrast ratio of about 11.4:1 on white fabric and 1.8:1 on black. As a cool shade, its cool cast recedes visually — useful for backgrounds, shadows, water and sky, and calm, restful palettes.