Cosmo Embroidery Floss

553

Blues family

Need details on Cosmo 553? This medium-light, muted blue hand-dyed shade is hex #8E83B8, RGB 142, 131, 184. Cross-brand equivalents in Weeks Dye Works, Gentle Art Sampler, and Valdani are listed below — ranked by perceptual similarity — alongside 8 nearby Cosmo shades and color-theory harmony pairings.

Hex
#8E83B8
RGB
142, 131, 184
HSL
252°, 27%, 62%
Lab
57.5, 15.6, -26.3
Lightness
62%
Light
Saturation
27%
Muted
Hue
252°
Family
Blues

Brand Equivalents for Cosmo 553

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

Cosmo 553

Sullivans

Lavender Medium 45042 62% Fair
Blue Violet Medium Light 45471 58% Fair
Antique Violet Light 45327 52% Fair
Grey Blue Medium 45475 52% Fair
Violet Light 45126 50% Fair

Crescent Colours

Betty Bluebell 048 74% Approx
Amethyst 001 69% Approx
Blueberry Tart 033 50% Fair
Cool Azul 079 48% Fair
Vintage Violet 045 47% Fair

Similar Cosmo Colors to 553

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

Working with Cosmo 553

On white fabric
3.4:1
On dark fabric
6.1:1
Temperature
soft cool
Closest to
violet

It has moderate contrast on both light and dark fabric — usable on either, but test a few stitches on your chosen ground first.

Blending & gradients

Cosmo 553 sits a hair from Cosmo 2172 (ΔE 2.47) — 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 553

Cosmo threads that pair well with 553, 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 553 in context with nearby shades from the blues color family.

About Cosmo 553

Meet Cosmo 553 — a muted, medium-light hand-dyed thread in the blues family with deep blue tones. Stitchers describe its character as restrained and versatile, perfect for forget-me-nots and bluebird motifs. It blends comfortably into projects centered on whale designs and sapphire accents.

Frequently Asked Questions

Cosmo 553 — what color is it?

Cosmo 553 is a medium-light blue thread (hex #8E83B8, RGB 142, 131, 184). It shows up most in water and denim textures.

What is the DMC equivalent of Cosmo 553?

The closest DMC match for Cosmo 553 is DMC 30 (Medium Light Blueberry) with a 79% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include DMC 28 (Medium Light Eggplant, 72%) and DMC 340 (Blue Violet medium, 67%).

Which Cosmo threads are close to 553?

The closest Cosmo threads to 553 are 2172 (ΔE 2.47), 2662 (ΔE 6.31), and 262 (ΔE 6.39). These are useful substitutes when 553 is unavailable or for building gradients.

What is Cosmo 553 good for?

Cosmo 553 is commonly used in cross-stitch projects featuring water, denim textures, cool-toned backgrounds, nautical themes. Its medium-light tone works well for standalone motifs and as part of larger palettes. This page includes color harmonies and similar shades to pair with 553.

What fabric color works best with Cosmo 553?

It has moderate contrast on both light and dark fabric — usable on either, but test a few stitches on your chosen ground first. For reference, 553 has a contrast ratio of about 3.4:1 on white fabric and 6.1:1 on black. As a soft cool shade, its cool cast recedes visually — useful for backgrounds, shadows, water and sky, and calm, restful palettes.