550 — Violet very dark
Purples family#47184B
DMC 550 (Violet very dark) is a dark, vivid purple shade with hex code #47184B and RGB values 71, 24, 75. 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 550
DMC Six-Strand Embroidery Floss (Mouliné Spécial)
- Also sold as
- Passionflower
- Fiber
- 100% cotton
- Strands
- 6 strands
- Sold as
- 8 m skein
Brand Equivalents for DMC 550
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 550 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 550 (Violet very dark) in any brand.
Similar DMC Colors to 550
Closest DMC threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with DMC 550
It pops on white and light fabric but nearly disappears on black, so pair it with a light or neutral ground.
DMC 550 (Violet very dark) is dark enough to define edges: stitchers reach for shades like it when a design needs crisp backstitch outlines or readable text.
DMC 550 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 Violet very dark turns up.
Diamond painting: the same number is sold as a drill — Diamond Dotz D550, Diamond Drills USA DMC550. A kit legend or drill bag marked 550 means this color. See the diamond painting DMC chart for every code with drill availability.
Color Harmonies for DMC 550
DMC threads that pair well with 550, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Purples Family
DMC550 in context with nearby shades from the purples color family.
About DMC 550
Known as Violet very dark, DMC 550 is a dark, vivid shade sitting in the purples family. This thread brings a dramatic and vivid presence to projects featuring elegant accents or grape clusters. Look for it in charts that feature wisteria or amethyst tones.
Frequently Asked Questions
DMC 550 — what color is it?
The color of DMC 550 is Violet very dark — a dark purple thread (hex #47184B, RGB 71, 24, 75). It shows up most in lilac patterns and galaxy motifs.
What is the Anchor equivalent of DMC 550?
The closest Anchor match for DMC 550 (Violet very dark) is Anchor 102 (Lavender Ultra Very Dark) with a 79% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include Anchor 101 (Violet Very Dark, 71%) and Anchor 112 (Lavender Very Dark, 47%).
Which DMC threads are close to 550?
The closest DMC threads to 550 are 35 Very Dark Fuchsia (ΔE 6.41), 327 Violet (ΔE 6.63), and 3834 Grape dark (ΔE 7.7). These are useful substitutes when 550 is unavailable or for building gradients.
What is DMC 550 good for?
DMC 550 (Violet very dark) is commonly used in cross-stitch projects featuring lilac patterns, galaxy motifs, lavender fields, royal motifs. Its dark tone works well for standalone motifs and as part of larger palettes. This page includes color harmonies and similar shades to pair with 550.
Is DMC 550 (Violet very dark) good for backstitching and outlines?
Yes — very dark shades like 550 are among the most-used backstitch and outlining colors. Work it in a single strand over one for crisp edges, lettering, and fine detail.
Does DMC 550 come in a satin, metallic, or Étoile version?
Yes. The same number is made as DMC Satin S550, DMC Étoile C550. The base shade is matched across the lines, but the fiber changes the look: Satin is a high-sheen rayon, Light Effects is a metallic polyester most people blend one strand at a time, and Étoile is cotton with a sparkle filament that stitches like ordinary floss.
What is the diamond painting drill code for DMC 550?
Diamond Dotz D550 and Diamond Drills USA DMC550 carry the same number. Diamond painting adopted DMC's numbering, so a kit legend or drill bag marked 550 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 550?
Outside the main floss brands, the nearest shades we hold are Red Heart Super Saver 0776 Dark Orchid (90%), Vineyard Silk 102 Imperial Palace (89%), Madeira Rayon 1320 Purple Heart (88%). Percentages are perceptual color distance between the two swatches; anything above about 93% is hard to tell apart on fabric.