Sullivans floss color chart (454 colors)

Browse 454 Sullivans embroidery floss colors — search by number, name, or color family. Every Sullivans skein prints the corresponding DMC number on the label, making it one of the easiest brands to convert between. Track colors you own, build palettes, and compare shades.

Sullivans color chart by number

Use the chart below to browse the full Sullivans floss color list — filter by color family, search by number or name, and find the DMC equivalent for any color.

Want to convert the other direction? Use the DMC color chart and look up the Sullivans match.

How many Sullivans colors are there?

Sullivans produces 489 solid colors of six-strand embroidery floss — the same count as DMC's standard mouliné range. This chart includes 454 of those colors. Each Sullivans skein uses its own numbering system (45000–45489) but prints the corresponding DMC color number right on the label, which makes converting any DMC-based pattern to Sullivans straightforward.

The Sullivans color card also includes specialty threads — overdyed floss, metallic floss, and overdyed pearl cotton — but this chart covers the standard solid colors only.

Screen colors vary. For exact matching, compare real skeins.

Track your Sullivans stash

Use "I own this" to mark colors you have. It saves in your browser — no account needed. Filter to "Not in inventory" before your next shopping trip.

Sullivans vs DMC — what's the difference?

Sullivans and DMC share the same 489-color range and skein length (8.7 yards), but they're made by different companies with different manufacturing processes.

Sullivans is produced by M.T. Sullivan & Co., an Australian company founded in 1972 with headquarters in Brisbane. Their floss is manufactured in China using a proprietary RelaxTwist™ process. DMC is a French company (founded in 1746) manufacturing in France.

Both brands use 100% long-staple Egyptian cotton with double mercerization, and both are colorfast and fade-resistant. The practical differences: Sullivans typically costs 30–40% less per skein. Some stitchers find the hand slightly coarser than DMC, with a touch more friction when pulling through fabric. Color matching varies — some shades are nearly identical between brands, while others (particularly muted greens and browns) show visible differences. The only way to know for a given color is to compare skeins side by side.

The biggest practical advantage of Sullivans is the dual numbering system. Every pattern designed for DMC can be stitched with Sullivans without needing a conversion chart — just match the DMC numbers printed on each skein.

If price is the primary concern and you don't mind a cotton-polyester blend, CXC offers DMC-compatible numbering at an even lower price point — though without Sullivans' 100% cotton composition and retail availability.

For metallic accents alongside Sullivans cotton, Kreinik is the standard — the same Kreinik color codes work regardless of which cotton floss brand you use for the base stitching.

Related tools

• DMC color chart — Browse all 489 DMC embroidery floss colors
• Anchor color chart — Browse all 446 Anchor stranded cotton colors
• Cosmo color chart — Browse all 499 Cosmo embroidery floss colors
• Madeira color chart — Browse all 381 Madeira embroidery thread colors
• DMC ↔ Anchor conversion — Convert thread codes between DMC and Anchor
• Cross stitch fabric calculator — Calculate finished size and fabric requirements
• Photo to cross stitch converter — See exactly what you'll stitch before you buy thread
• Cross stitch pattern maker — Design original patterns from scratch

About Sullivans embroidery floss

Sullivans is a budget-friendly alternative to DMC that has quietly built a following among cost-conscious stitchers, particularly in the US and Australia. The brand's key selling point is simple: it mirrors DMC's entire 489-color solid range and prints the DMC equivalent number on every skein — no conversion chart needed. Sullivans is one of three brands that use DMC-compatible color numbering — CXC uses the same codes at an even lower price (though with a poly-cotton blend), and DMC itself is obviously the original. For patterns specifying Anchor codes instead of DMC, you'll need a separate conversion since Sullivans prints DMC numbers only.

The floss is six-strand, divisible, and available in standard 8.7-yard pull skeins. Sullivans uses their own numbering system (the 45000 series) alongside the printed DMC reference, so you may encounter either number depending on the retailer.

For stitchers working through large projects where thread cost adds up, Sullivans offers meaningful savings without a dramatic drop in quality. For small projects or when exact color fidelity matters most, comparing specific Sullivans and DMC skeins in person is worth the trip — some colors match beautifully, others less so.