Cosmo Embroidery Floss

551

Purples family

Looking up Cosmo 551? It's a light purple shade (#C9BCD8 / RGB 201, 188, 216). Scroll down for Sullivans, Classic Colorworks, and Weeks Dye Works equivalents ranked by visual similarity, plus 8 close Cosmo alternatives and curated color harmonies.

Hex
#C9BCD8
RGB
201, 188, 216
HSL
268°, 26%, 79%
Lab
78.1, 9.8, -12.4
Lightness
79%
Light
Saturation
26%
Muted
Hue
268°
Family
Purples

Brand Equivalents for Cosmo 551

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

Cosmo 551

Sullivans

Antique Violet Very Light 45372 81% Good
Lavender Light 45043 68% Approx
Violet Very Light 45468 53% Fair
Blue Violet Very Light 45374 52% Fair
Grey Blue Light 45474 47% Fair

Crescent Colours

Hydrangea 018 78% Approx
Spun Sugar 030 63% Fair
Bambino 076 60% Fair
Sugar and Spice 040 46% Fair
Fleur de Lilac 123 36% Fair

Similar Cosmo Colors to 551

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

Working with Cosmo 551

On white fabric
1.8:1
On dark fabric
11.7:1
Temperature
soft cool
Closest to
silver

It reads best on black or dark fabric and can wash out on white, so reach for a dark or mid-tone ground.

Blending & gradients

Its nearest neighbor, Cosmo 171A, is barely a step away (ΔE 3.14). Tweed the two together for subtle shading, or substitute freely when one is out of stock.

Color Harmonies for Cosmo 551

Cosmo threads that pair well with 551, 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 551 in context with nearby shades from the purples color family.

About Cosmo 551

A light, muted entry in the purples family, that's Cosmo 551 with blue-violet tones. The shade reads as subtle and pale — a go-to choice for grape clusters and wisteria. It also turns up in patterns built around amethyst tones and iris blooms.

Frequently Asked Questions

What color is Cosmo 551?

Cosmo 551 is a light purple shade (hex #C9BCD8, RGB 201, 188, 216) in the purples family, commonly used for galaxy motifs, lavender fields, and similar motifs.

What's the closest DMC match for Cosmo 551?

The closest DMC match for Cosmo 551 is DMC 26 (Pale Lavender) with a 82% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include DMC 25 (Ultra Light Lavender, 72%) and DMC 211 (Lavender light, 65%).

What's a good substitute for Cosmo 551?

The closest Cosmo threads to 551 are 171A (ΔE 3.14), 281 (ΔE 6.23), and 761 (ΔE 6.62). These are useful substitutes when 551 is unavailable or for building gradients.

What projects use Cosmo 551?

Cross-stitchers pull Cosmo 551 for charts featuring galaxy motifs, lavender fields, royal motifs, floral details. The light tone reads cleanly on its own and slots into multi-color palettes — see the color harmonies below for pairing ideas.

What fabric color works best with Cosmo 551?

It reads best on black or dark fabric and can wash out on white, so reach for a dark or mid-tone ground. For reference, 551 has a contrast ratio of about 1.8:1 on white fabric and 11.7:1 on black. As a soft cool shade, its cool cast recedes visually — useful for backgrounds, shadows, water and sky, and calm, restful palettes.