166 — Moss Green medium light
Yellows family#A19F20
Need details on DMC 166? This medium-dark, vivid yellow shade (Moss Green medium light) is hex #A19F20, RGB 161, 159, 32. 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 166
DMC Six-Strand Embroidery Floss (Mouliné Spécial)
- Also sold as
- Wormwood Green
- Fiber
- 100% cotton
- Strands
- 6 strands
- Sold as
- 8 m skein
Brand Equivalents for DMC 166
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 166 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 166 (Moss Green medium light) in any brand.
Similar DMC Colors to 166
Closest DMC threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with DMC 166
It has moderate contrast on both light and dark fabric — usable on either, but test a few stitches on your chosen ground first.
DMC 166 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 Moss Green medium light turns up.
DMC 166 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 166.
Diamond painting: the same number is sold as a drill — Diamond Dotz D166, Diamond Drills USA DMC166. A kit legend or drill bag marked 166 means this color. See the diamond painting DMC chart for every code with drill availability.
Color Harmonies for DMC 166
DMC threads that pair well with 166, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Yellows Family
DMC166 in context with nearby shades from the yellows color family.
About DMC 166
Meet DMC 166, Moss Green medium light — a vivid, medium-dark thread in the yellows family with sunny yellow tones. Stitchers describe its character as intense and saturated, perfect for wheat fields and daffodils. It blends comfortably into projects centered on lemon motifs and rubber duck designs.
Frequently Asked Questions
DMC 166 — what color is it?
The color of DMC 166 is Moss Green medium light — a medium-dark yellow thread (hex #A19F20, RGB 161, 159, 32). It shows up most in highlights and warm backgrounds.
What is the Anchor equivalent of DMC 166?
The closest Anchor match for DMC 166 (Moss Green medium light) is Anchor 280 (Yellow Green) with a 69% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include Anchor 255 (Forest Green Light, 63%) and Anchor 843 (Khaki Green Medium Light, 47%).
Which DMC threads are close to 166?
The closest DMC threads to 166 are 734 Olive Green light (ΔE 6.6), 3819 Moss Green light (ΔE 6.94), and 907 Parrot Green light (ΔE 7.88). These are useful substitutes when 166 is unavailable or for building gradients.
What is DMC 166 good for?
DMC 166 (Moss Green medium light) is commonly used in cross-stitch projects featuring highlights, warm backgrounds, golden accents, stars. Its medium-dark tone works well for standalone motifs and as part of larger palettes. This page includes color harmonies and similar shades to pair with 166.
What fabric color works best with DMC 166 (Moss Green medium 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, 166 has a contrast ratio of about 2.8:1 on white fabric and 7.5:1 on black. As a warm shade, its warm cast advances toward the viewer — good for focal points, highlights, and cozy, inviting palettes.
Is there a metallic or satin version of DMC 166?
No. DMC 166 (Moss Green 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 166?
Diamond Dotz D166 and Diamond Drills USA DMC166 carry the same number. Diamond painting adopted DMC's numbering, so a kit legend or drill bag marked 166 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 166?
Outside the main floss brands, the nearest shades we hold are Madeira Rayon 1106 Guacamole (87%), Artkal S S80 Dark Olive (86%), Artkal C C85 Dark Olive (86%). Percentages are perceptual color distance between the two swatches; anything above about 93% is hard to tell apart on fabric.