139 — Smoky Taupe
Browns family#A48C60
Valdani 139 — Smoky Taupe — has hex #A48C60 and RGB 164, 140, 96. This medium, muted brown thread sits alongside its closest DMC, Anchor, and Madeira matches below, with 8 similar Valdani shades and a panel of color harmonies for palette planning.
Brand Equivalents for Valdani 139
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 139
Closest Valdani threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with Valdani 139
It has moderate contrast on both light and dark fabric — usable on either, but test a few stitches on your chosen ground first.
Valdani 139 (Smoky Taupe) falls where flesh tones live; portrait and figure charts lean on shades like it, graded against nearby lighter and darker threads for natural shadow.
Hand-dyed threads like Valdani 139 (Smoky Taupe) are never perfectly flat; expect soft variegation. Stock up in a single dye lot up front, since later batches can read noticeably different.
Valdani 139 (Smoky Taupe) sits a hair from Valdani M470 (Autumn Forest - Limited Edition!) (ΔE 3.15) — close enough to blend a strand of each for a smooth gradient or to swap one for the other in a pinch.
Color Harmonies for Valdani 139
Valdani threads that pair well with 139, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Browns Family
Valdani139 in context with nearby shades from the browns color family.
About Valdani 139
Meet Valdani 139, Smoky Taupe — a muted, medium thread in the browns family with golden brown tones. Its tone is restrained and earthy, making it a popular choice for rustic designs and leather accents. It pairs nicely in designs that call for horse designs or cinnamon motifs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Valdani 139 — what color is it?
The color of Valdani 139 is Smoky Taupe — a medium brown thread (hex #A48C60, RGB 164, 140, 96). It shows up most in earth tones and animal fur.
What is the DMC equivalent of Valdani 139?
The closest DMC match for Valdani 139 (Smoky Taupe) is DMC 613 (Drab Brown very light) with a 83% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include DMC 612 (Drab Brown light, 80%) and DMC 372 (Mustard light, 80%).
Which Valdani threads are close to 139?
The closest Valdani threads to 139 are M470 Autumn Forest - Limited Edition! (ΔE 3.15), M47 Robin's Nest (ΔE 4.02), and H205 Ancient Gold (ΔE 4.32). These are useful substitutes when 139 is unavailable or for building gradients.
What is Valdani 139 good for?
Valdani 139 (Smoky Taupe) is commonly used in cross-stitch projects featuring earth tones, animal fur, warm outlines, wooden textures. Its medium tone works well for standalone motifs and as part of larger palettes. This page includes color harmonies and similar shades to pair with 139.
Does Valdani 139 (Smoky Taupe) vary between dye lots?
Yes, mildly. Hand-dyed threads like 139 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.