159 — Grey Blue light
Blues family#97A6C5
Need details on DMC 159? This medium-light, muted blue shade (Grey Blue light) is hex #97A6C5, RGB 151, 166, 197. Cross-brand equivalents in Weeks Dye Works, Gentle Art Sampler, and Valdani are listed below — ranked by perceptual similarity — alongside 8 nearby DMC shades and color-theory harmony pairings.
About DMC 159
DMC Six-Strand Embroidery Floss (Mouliné Spécial)
- Also sold as
- Stormy Sky
- Fiber
- 100% cotton
- Strands
- 6 strands
- Sold as
- 8 m skein
Brand Equivalents for DMC 159
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 159 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 159 (Grey Blue light) in any brand.
Similar DMC Colors to 159
Closest DMC threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with DMC 159
It has moderate contrast on both light and dark fabric — usable on either, but test a few stitches on your chosen ground first.
DMC 159 (Grey Blue light) sits a hair from DMC 157 (Cornflower Blue very light) (ΔE 2.84) — close enough to blend a strand of each for a smooth gradient or to swap one for the other in a pinch.
DMC 159 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 Grey Blue light turns up.
DMC 159 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 159.
Diamond painting: the same number is sold as a drill — Diamond Dotz D159, Diamond Drills USA DMC159. A kit legend or drill bag marked 159 means this color. See the diamond painting DMC chart for every code with drill availability.
Color Harmonies for DMC 159
DMC threads that pair well with 159, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Blues Family
DMC159 in context with nearby shades from the blues color family.
About DMC 159
Meet DMC 159, Grey Blue light — a muted, medium-light thread in the blues family with true blue tones. Stitchers describe its character as restrained and versatile, perfect for skies and water. It blends comfortably into projects centered on denim textures and cool-toned backgrounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
DMC 159 — what color is it?
The color of DMC 159 is Grey Blue light — a medium-light blue thread (hex #97A6C5, RGB 151, 166, 197). It shows up most in bluebird motifs and whale designs.
What is the Anchor equivalent of DMC 159?
The closest Anchor match for DMC 159 (Grey Blue light) is Anchor 121 (Blue Purple Light) with a 84% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include Anchor 175 (Cornflower Blue Light, 82%) and Anchor 145 (Navy Blue Very Light, 74%).
Which DMC threads are close to 159?
The closest DMC threads to 159 are 157 Cornflower Blue very light (ΔE 2.84), 341 Blue Violet light (ΔE 4.39), and 3840 Lavender Blue light (ΔE 5.12). These are useful substitutes when 159 is unavailable or for building gradients.
What is DMC 159 good for?
DMC 159 (Grey Blue light) is commonly used in cross-stitch projects featuring bluebird motifs, whale designs, sapphire accents, porcelain patterns. 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 159.
What fabric color works best with DMC 159 (Grey Blue light)?
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, 159 has a contrast ratio of about 2.4:1 on white fabric and 8.6:1 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 159?
No. DMC 159 (Grey Blue 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 159?
Diamond Dotz D159 and Diamond Drills USA DMC159 carry the same number. Diamond painting adopted DMC's numbering, so a kit legend or drill bag marked 159 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 159?
Outside the main floss brands, the nearest shades we hold are Planet Earth 104 stream (94%), Waverly Wool 7046 Waverly Wool (91%), Luca-S 152 (90%). Percentages are perceptual color distance between the two swatches; anything above about 93% is hard to tell apart on fabric.