118 — Pearl Grey
Blues family
Valdani 118 (Pearl Grey) is a medium-light, subdued blue shade with hex code #9FA6B1 and RGB values 159, 166, 177. Below you'll find the closest J&P Coates, Sullivans, and Cosmo equivalents — ranked by visual color similarity — plus 8 similar Valdani shades and color harmony pairings.
Brand Equivalents for Valdani 118
Top 5 closest matches in each brand, ranked by visual color similarity. How matching works
DMC
Anchor
Madeira
J&P Coates
Sullivans
Classic Colorworks
Weeks Dye Works
Gentle Art Sampler
Crescent Colours
Similar Valdani Colors to 118
Closest Valdani threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with Valdani 118
It has moderate contrast on both light and dark fabric — usable on either, but test a few stitches on your chosen ground first.
As a hand-dyed floss, Valdani 118 (Pearl Grey) varies gently within and between skeins — that is the charm. Reserve one dye lot per project and avoid stitching in strict rows to keep the mottling even.
Color Harmonies for Valdani 118
Valdani threads that pair well with 118, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Blues Family
Valdani 118 in context with nearby shades from the blues color family.
About Valdani 118
Valdani 118 (Pearl Grey) is a medium-light, subdued shade in the blues family with sky blue tones. This thread brings a balanced and quiet presence to projects featuring hydrangea blooms or skies. Look for it in charts that feature water or denim textures.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Valdani 118 look like?
Valdani 118 (Pearl Grey) is a medium-light shade in the blues family with hex #9FA6B1 and RGB 159, 166, 177. Stitchers reach for it in projects featuring forget-me-nots and bluebird motifs.
Which DMC thread matches Valdani 118?
The closest DMC match for Valdani 118 (Pearl Grey) is DMC 415 (Pearl Grey) with a 100% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include DMC 168 (Pewter very light, 74%) and DMC 3752 (Antique Blue very light, 71%).
What Valdani colors are similar to 118?
The closest Valdani threads to 118 are 253 Pewter very light (ΔE 5.19), 205 Cornflower Blue very light (ΔE 7.64), and 117 Antique Blue ultra (ΔE 9.54). These are useful substitutes when 118 is unavailable or for building gradients.
When should I use Valdani 118?
Reach for Valdani 118 (Pearl Grey) when your project calls for forget-me-nots, bluebird motifs, whale designs, sapphire accents. Its medium-light character carries both small accents and wider palette work; the harmony picks on this page show natural companions to 118.
Does Valdani 118 (Pearl Grey) vary between dye lots?
Some. As a hand-dyed floss, 118 shifts subtly skein to skein — that gentle variegation is the appeal. Buy enough for a project in one dye lot and stitch in a random order to blend any variation.