160 — Grey Blue medium
Blues family#66759C
DMC 160 — Grey Blue medium — has hex #66759C and RGB 102, 117, 156. This medium, muted blue thread sits alongside its closest Anchor, Madeira, and J&P Coates matches below, with 8 similar DMC shades and a panel of color harmonies for palette planning.
About DMC 160
DMC Six-Strand Embroidery Floss (Mouliné Spécial)
- Also sold as
- Stormy Blue
- Fiber
- 100% cotton
- Strands
- 6 strands
- Sold as
- 8 m skein
Brand Equivalents for DMC 160
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 160 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 160 (Grey Blue medium) in any brand.
Similar DMC Colors to 160
Closest DMC threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with DMC 160
It stands out clearly on both white and dark fabric, so it is an easy, versatile choice for any ground.
DMC 160 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 medium turns up.
DMC 160 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 160.
Diamond painting: the same number is sold as a drill — Diamond Dotz D160, Diamond Drills USA DMC160. A kit legend or drill bag marked 160 means this color. See the diamond painting DMC chart for every code with drill availability.
Color Harmonies for DMC 160
DMC threads that pair well with 160, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Blues Family
DMC160 in context with nearby shades from the blues color family.
About DMC 160
Meet DMC 160, Grey Blue medium — a muted, medium thread in the blues family with true blue tones. Its tone is restrained and earthy, making it a popular choice for skies and water. It pairs nicely in designs that call for denim textures or cool-toned backgrounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
DMC 160 — what color is it?
The color of DMC 160 is Grey Blue medium — a medium blue thread (hex #66759C, RGB 102, 117, 156). It shows up most in bluebird motifs and whale designs.
What is the Anchor equivalent of DMC 160?
The closest Anchor match for DMC 160 (Grey Blue medium) is Anchor 978 (Blue Dark) with a 72% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include Anchor 176 (Cornflower Blue Medium, 69%) and Anchor 146 (Navy Blue Light, 66%).
Which DMC threads are close to 160?
The closest DMC threads to 160 are 3839 Lavender Blue medium (ΔE 4.76), 156 Blue Violet medium light (ΔE 5.11), and 793 Cornflower Blue medium (ΔE 6.67). These are useful substitutes when 160 is unavailable or for building gradients.
What is DMC 160 good for?
DMC 160 (Grey Blue medium) is commonly used in cross-stitch projects featuring bluebird motifs, whale designs, sapphire accents, porcelain patterns. Its medium tone works well for standalone motifs and as part of larger palettes. This page includes color harmonies and similar shades to pair with 160.
What fabric color works best with DMC 160 (Grey Blue medium)?
It stands out clearly on both white and dark fabric, so it is an easy, versatile choice for any ground. For reference, 160 has a contrast ratio of about 4.6:1 on white fabric and 4.6:1 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 160?
No. DMC 160 (Grey Blue medium) 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 160?
Diamond Dotz D160 and Diamond Drills USA DMC160 carry the same number. Diamond painting adopted DMC's numbering, so a kit legend or drill bag marked 160 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 160?
Outside the main floss brands, the nearest shades we hold are Trebizond 6174 Sapphire Blue (93%), Mill Hill Beads 02006 (91%), Waverly Wool 7014 Waverly Wool (87%). Percentages are perceptual color distance between the two swatches; anything above about 93% is hard to tell apart on fabric.