1242 — Dark Blue
Blues family#222E61
Need details on Valdani 1242? This medium-dark, moderately saturated blue shade (Dark Blue) is hex #222E61, RGB 34, 46, 97. Cross-brand equivalents in Classic Colorworks, Weeks Dye Works, and Gentle Art Sampler are listed below — ranked by perceptual similarity — alongside 8 nearby Valdani shades and color-theory harmony pairings.
About Valdani 1242
Valdani 6-Ply Floss
- Strands
- 6 ply
Brand Equivalents for Valdani 1242
The five closest matches in each brand, ranked by CIEDE2000 perceptual color difference.
DMC
Anchor
Madeira
J&P Coates
Sullivans
Classic Colorworks
Weeks Dye Works
Gentle Art Sampler
Crescent Colors
Similar Valdani Colors to 1242
Closest Valdani threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with Valdani 1242
It pops on white and light fabric but nearly disappears on black, so pair it with a light or neutral ground.
Valdani is hand-dyed, so Valdani 1242 (Dark Blue) carries subtle tonal shifts skein to skein. Buy enough for a project in one dye lot, and stitch in a random or cross-country order to blend any variation.
Its nearest neighbor, Valdani 105 (Luminous Rich Navy), is barely a step away (ΔE 1.35). Tweed the two together for subtle shading, or substitute freely when one is out of stock.
Color Harmonies for Valdani 1242
Valdani threads that pair well with 1242, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Blues Family
Valdani1242 in context with nearby shades from the blues color family.
About Valdani 1242
A medium-dark, moderately saturated entry in the blues family, Valdani 1242 carries the name Dark Blue with true blue tones. Stitchers describe its character as steady and deep, perfect for porcelain patterns and hydrangea blooms. It blends comfortably into projects centered on skies and water.
Frequently Asked Questions
What color is Valdani 1242?
Valdani 1242 is called Dark Blue. It's a medium-dark blue shade (hex #222E61, RGB 34, 46, 97) in the blues family, commonly used for winter scenes, forget-me-nots, and similar motifs.
What's the closest DMC match for Valdani 1242?
The closest DMC match for Valdani 1242 (Dark Blue) is DMC 158 (Cornflower Blue medium) with a 85% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include DMC 803 (Baby Blue ultra very dark, 82%) and DMC 796 (Royal Blue dark, 82%).
What's a good substitute for Valdani 1242?
The closest Valdani threads to 1242 are 105 Luminous Rich Navy (ΔE 1.35), O515 Midnight Blue (ΔE 5.48), and 1245 Grape Soda (ΔE 5.9). These are useful substitutes when 1242 is unavailable or for building gradients.
What projects use Valdani 1242?
Cross-stitchers pull Valdani 1242 (Dark Blue) for charts featuring winter scenes, forget-me-nots, bluebird motifs, whale designs. The medium-dark tone reads cleanly on its own and slots into multi-color palettes — see the color harmonies below for pairing ideas.
Does Valdani 1242 (Dark Blue) vary between dye lots?
Yes, mildly. Hand-dyed threads like 1242 are never perfectly flat, and later dye lots can read differently. Reserve one lot per project and avoid stitching in strict rows to keep the mottling even.