164 — Red Brown
Reds family#7F4135
Looking up Valdani 164? It's Red Brown, a medium-dark red shade (#7F4135 / RGB 127, 65, 53). Scroll down for Sullivans, Cosmo, and Classic Colorworks equivalents ranked by visual similarity, plus 8 close Valdani alternatives and curated color harmonies.
Brand Equivalents for Valdani 164
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 164
Closest Valdani threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with Valdani 164
It has moderate contrast on both light and dark fabric — usable on either, but test a few stitches on your chosen ground first.
Valdani is hand-dyed, so Valdani 164 (Red Brown) 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 863 (Faded Rust Dark), is barely a step away (ΔE 3.2). Tweed the two together for subtle shading, or substitute freely when one is out of stock.
Color Harmonies for Valdani 164
Valdani threads that pair well with 164, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Reds Family
Valdani164 in context with nearby shades from the reds color family.
About Valdani 164
A medium-dark, moderately saturated entry in the reds family, Valdani 164 carries the name Red Brown with red-orange tones. The shade reads as steady and deep — a go-to choice for berries and valentines. It also turns up in patterns built around poppies and cardinal birds.
Frequently Asked Questions
What color is Valdani 164?
Valdani 164 is called Red Brown. It's a medium-dark red shade (hex #7F4135, RGB 127, 65, 53) in the reds family, commonly used for tomato patterns, roses, and similar motifs.
What's the closest DMC match for Valdani 164?
The closest DMC match for Valdani 164 (Red Brown) is DMC 3858 (Rosewood medium) with a 85% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include DMC 632 (Desert Sand ultra very dark, 84%) and DMC 400 (Mahogany dark, 75%).
What's a good substitute for Valdani 164?
The closest Valdani threads to 164 are 863 Faded Rust Dark (ΔE 3.2), 812 Brick Medium (ΔE 3.66), and M29 Countryside (ΔE 3.75). These are useful substitutes when 164 is unavailable or for building gradients.
What projects use Valdani 164?
Cross-stitchers pull Valdani 164 (Red Brown) for charts featuring tomato patterns, roses, hearts, holiday 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 164 (Red Brown) vary between dye lots?
Yes, mildly. Hand-dyed threads like 164 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.