156 — Blue Violet medium light
Blues family#737DB3
DMC 156 (Blue Violet medium light) is a medium-light, muted blue shade with hex code #737DB3 and RGB values 115, 125, 179. Below you'll find the closest Sullivans, Cosmo, and Classic Colorworks equivalents — ranked by visual color similarity — plus 8 similar DMC shades and color harmony pairings.
About DMC 156
DMC Six-Strand Embroidery Floss (Mouliné Spécial)
- Also sold as
- Cornflower Blue
- Fiber
- 100% cotton
- Strands
- 6 strands
- Sold as
- 8 m skein
Brand Equivalents for DMC 156
The five closest matches in each brand, ranked by CIEDE2000 perceptual color difference.
Anchor
Madeira
J&P Coates
Sullivans
Classic Colorworks
Weeks Dye Works
Gentle Art Sampler
Valdani
Crescent Colors
Closest match to DMC 156 in 67 more brands
The single nearest shade in every other palette we hold, from needlepoint silks and wools to fuse beads and yarn. Match quality is perceptual color distance: 93% and up is hard to tell apart, under 75% is a visible shift.
More stranded cotton
Hand-dyed & overdyed
Silk
Wool for needlepoint
Metallic, rayon & specialty
Other threads & beads
Fuse beads
Yarn for crochet & knitting
Need the runners-up, or a whole pattern converted? The thread conversion chart ranks every alternative for DMC 156 (Blue Violet medium light) in any brand.
Similar DMC Colors to 156
Closest DMC threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with DMC 156
It stands out clearly on both white and dark fabric, so it is an easy, versatile choice for any ground.
DMC 156 in other DMC lines
DMC reuses base numbers across its specialty lines, so the same shade can exist as a satin, a metallic, or a sparkle floss under a prefixed code. Here is where Blue Violet medium light turns up.
DMC 156 is a Mouliné Spécial-only number: there is no Satin, Light Effects, or Étoile version of this shade. For a sheen or sparkle in the same tone, blend one strand of the nearest metallic with two strands of DMC 156.
Diamond painting: the same number is sold as a drill — Diamond Dotz D156, Diamond Drills USA DMC156. A kit legend or drill bag marked 156 means this color. See the diamond painting DMC chart for every code with drill availability.
Color Harmonies for DMC 156
DMC threads that pair well with 156, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Blues Family
DMC156 in context with nearby shades from the blues color family.
About DMC 156
Known as Blue Violet medium light, DMC 156 is a medium-light, muted shade sitting in the blues family with true blue tones. This thread brings a restrained and versatile presence to projects featuring sapphire accents or porcelain patterns. Look for it in charts that feature hydrangea blooms or skies.
Frequently Asked Questions
DMC 156 — what color is it?
The color of DMC 156 is Blue Violet medium light — a medium-light blue thread (hex #737DB3, RGB 115, 125, 179). It shows up most in nautical themes and winter scenes.
What is the Anchor equivalent of DMC 156?
The closest Anchor match for DMC 156 (Blue Violet medium light) is Anchor 176 (Cornflower Blue Medium) with a 86% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include Anchor 131 (Sky Blue Medium, 74%) and Anchor 146 (Navy Blue Light, 72%).
Which DMC threads are close to 156?
The closest DMC threads to 156 are 340 Blue Violet medium (ΔE 4.45), 160 Grey Blue medium (ΔE 5.11), and 794 Cornflower Blue light (ΔE 5.72). These are useful substitutes when 156 is unavailable or for building gradients.
What is DMC 156 good for?
DMC 156 (Blue Violet medium light) is commonly used in cross-stitch projects featuring nautical themes, winter scenes, forget-me-nots, bluebird motifs. 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 156.
What fabric color works best with DMC 156 (Blue Violet medium light)?
It stands out clearly on both white and dark fabric, so it is an easy, versatile choice for any ground. For reference, 156 has a contrast ratio of about 4:1 on white fabric and 5.3:1 on black. As a soft cool shade, its cool cast recedes visually — useful for backgrounds, shadows, water and sky, and calm, restful palettes.
Is there a metallic or satin version of DMC 156?
No. DMC 156 (Blue Violet medium light) exists only as Mouliné Spécial six-strand cotton — there is no Satin, Light Effects, or Étoile code for it. For a matching shine, blend one strand of the nearest Light Effects color with two strands of the cotton.
What is the diamond painting drill code for DMC 156?
Diamond Dotz D156 and Diamond Drills USA DMC156 carry the same number. Diamond painting adopted DMC's numbering, so a kit legend or drill bag marked 156 is this color regardless of drill brand — though each manufacturer dyes to the reference in its own batches, so avoid mixing brands inside one large block.
Which other thread brands come closest to DMC 156?
Outside the main floss brands, the nearest shades we hold are Needle Necessities 344S Periwinkle (92%), Mill Hill Beads 90168 (91%), Eterna Silk 2780 Ocean Blue (89%). Percentages are perceptual color distance between the two swatches; anything above about 93% is hard to tell apart on fabric.