2 — Charcoal
Blacks family#424242
Valdani 2 — Charcoal — has hex #424242 and RGB 66, 66, 66. This medium-dark, subdued black 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 2
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 2
Closest Valdani threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with Valdani 2
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 2 (Charcoal) 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 H211 (Blue Black) is so near (ΔE 2.1), the pair makes a natural two-step gradient — handy for shading skin, petals, or skies without a hard seam.
Color Harmonies for Valdani 2
Valdani threads that pair well with 2, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Blacks Family
Valdani2 in context with nearby shades from the blacks color family.
About Valdani 2
Valdani 2 (Charcoal) is a medium-dark, subdued shade in the blacks family. It has a deep and grounded feel that suits shadow textures and outlines particularly well. Designers often pair this shade with lettering or bold contrast for balanced palettes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Valdani 2 look like?
Valdani 2 (Charcoal) is a medium-dark shade in the blacks family with hex #424242 and RGB 66, 66, 66. Stitchers reach for it in projects featuring silhouettes and calligraphy.
Which DMC thread matches Valdani 2?
The closest DMC match for Valdani 2 (Charcoal) is DMC 413 (Pewter Grey dark) with a 82% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include DMC 535 (Ash Grey very light, 79%) and DMC 844 (Beaver Grey ultra dark, 76%).
What Valdani colors are similar to 2?
The closest Valdani threads to 2 are H211 Blue Black (ΔE 2.1), P11 Aged Black (ΔE 3.45), and 126 Deep Gray (ΔE 3.98). These are useful substitutes when 2 is unavailable or for building gradients.
When should I use Valdani 2?
Reach for Valdani 2 (Charcoal) when your project calls for silhouettes, calligraphy, cat designs, crow motifs. Its medium-dark character carries both small accents and wider palette work; the harmony picks on this page show natural companions to 2.
Does Valdani 2 (Charcoal) vary between dye lots?
Some. As a hand-dyed floss, 2 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.