256 — Icy Blue
Blues family#B6BBCB
Below: Valdani 256 (Icy Blue), a light, muted blue shade with hex #B6BBCB and RGB 182, 187, 203. Find its closest Madeira, J&P Coates, and Sullivans matches ranked by visual similarity, plus 8 similar Valdani shades and a full set of color harmony picks.
Brand Equivalents for Valdani 256
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 256
Closest Valdani threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with Valdani 256
It reads best on black or dark fabric and can wash out on white, so reach for a dark or mid-tone ground.
Hand-dyed threads like Valdani 256 (Icy Blue) are never perfectly flat; expect soft variegation. Stock up in a single dye lot up front, since later batches can read noticeably different.
Color Harmonies for Valdani 256
Valdani threads that pair well with 256, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Blues Family
Valdani256 in context with nearby shades from the blues color family.
About Valdani 256
Meet Valdani 256, Icy Blue — a muted, light thread in the blues family with true blue tones. The quiet and understated character of this shade lends itself well to forget-me-nots and bluebird motifs. Stitchers frequently choose it for whale designs and sapphire accents in their projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Valdani 256 — what color is it?
The color of Valdani 256 is Icy Blue — a light blue thread (hex #B6BBCB, RGB 182, 187, 203). It shows up most in water and denim textures.
What is the DMC equivalent of Valdani 256?
The closest DMC match for Valdani 256 (Icy Blue) is DMC 762 (Pearl Grey very light) with a 79% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include DMC 415 (Pearl Grey, 67%) and DMC 25 (Ultra Light Lavender, 66%).
Which Valdani threads are close to 256?
The closest Valdani threads to 256 are 117 White Smoke Gray (ΔE 6.38), JP10 Cape Cod Cottage (ΔE 6.97), and JP11 Heavenly Hue (ΔE 9.08). These are useful substitutes when 256 is unavailable or for building gradients.
What is Valdani 256 good for?
Valdani 256 (Icy Blue) is commonly used in cross-stitch projects featuring water, denim textures, cool-toned backgrounds, nautical themes. Its light tone works well for standalone motifs and as part of larger palettes. This page includes color harmonies and similar shades to pair with 256.
Does Valdani 256 (Icy Blue) vary between dye lots?
Yes, mildly. Hand-dyed threads like 256 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.