172 — Rich Medium Brown
Reds family#513B3C
Valdani 172 — Rich Medium Brown — has hex #513B3C and RGB 81, 59, 60. This medium-dark, muted red thread sits alongside its closest Cosmo, Classic Colorworks, and Weeks Dye Works matches below, with 8 similar Valdani shades and a panel of color harmonies for palette planning.
Brand Equivalents for Valdani 172
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 172
Closest Valdani threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with Valdani 172
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 172 (Rich Medium Brown) 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.
Because Valdani O145 (Earth Shades) is so near (ΔE 1.89), the pair makes a natural two-step gradient — handy for shading skin, petals, or skies without a hard seam.
Color Harmonies for Valdani 172
Valdani threads that pair well with 172, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Reds Family
Valdani172 in context with nearby shades from the reds color family.
About Valdani 172
Valdani 172 (Rich Medium Brown) is a medium-dark, muted shade in the reds family with warm crimson tones. It has a deep and grounded feel that suits tomato patterns and roses particularly well. Designers often pair this shade with hearts or holiday designs for balanced palettes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Valdani 172 look like?
Valdani 172 (Rich Medium Brown) is a medium-dark shade in the reds family with hex #513B3C and RGB 81, 59, 60. Stitchers reach for it in projects featuring poppies and cardinal birds.
Which DMC thread matches Valdani 172?
The closest DMC match for Valdani 172 (Rich Medium Brown) is DMC 779 (Cocoa dark) with a 86% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include DMC 09 (Very Dark Cocoa, 84%) and DMC 839 (Beige Brown dark, 73%).
What Valdani colors are similar to 172?
The closest Valdani threads to 172 are O145 Earth Shades (ΔE 1.89), H210 Melancholic Purple (ΔE 3.38), and 8103 Withered Mulberry Dark (ΔE 3.84). These are useful substitutes when 172 is unavailable or for building gradients.
When should I use Valdani 172?
Reach for Valdani 172 (Rich Medium Brown) when your project calls for poppies, cardinal birds, apple motifs, ladybug designs. Its medium-dark character carries both small accents and wider palette work; the harmony picks on this page show natural companions to 172.
Does Valdani 172 (Rich Medium Brown) vary between dye lots?
Some. As a hand-dyed floss, 172 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.