46 — Carnation light
Reds family
Need details on Valdani 46? This medium-light, highly saturated red shade (Carnation light) is hex #FB4D6D, RGB 251, 77, 109. Cross-brand equivalents in Anchor, Madeira, and J&P Coates are listed below — ranked by perceptual similarity — alongside 8 nearby Valdani shades and color-theory harmony pairings.
Brand Equivalents for Valdani 46
Top 5 closest matches in each brand, ranked by visual color similarity. How matching works
DMC
Anchor
Madeira
J&P Coates
Sullivans
Classic Colorworks
Weeks Dye Works
Gentle Art Sampler
Crescent Colours
Similar Valdani Colors to 46
Closest Valdani threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with Valdani 46
It has moderate contrast on both light and dark fabric — usable on either, but test a few stitches on your chosen ground first.
With its high saturation, Valdani 46 (Carnation light) draws the eye — a natural pick for focal motifs, small pops of color, and details you want to read first.
Hand-dyed threads like Valdani 46 (Carnation light) 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 46
Valdani threads that pair well with 46, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Reds Family
Valdani 46 in context with nearby shades from the reds color family.
About Valdani 46
Known as Carnation light, Valdani 46 is a medium-light, highly saturated shade sitting in the reds family with warm crimson tones. With a crisp and versatile quality, this thread works beautifully in bold accents and berries. You will find this color at home in patterns featuring valentines and poppies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Valdani 46 — what color is it?
The color of Valdani 46 is Carnation light — a medium-light red thread (hex #FB4D6D, RGB 251, 77, 109). It shows up most in barn scenes and tomato patterns.
What is the DMC equivalent of Valdani 46?
The closest DMC match for Valdani 46 (Carnation light) is DMC 893 (Carnation light) with a 100% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include DMC 956 (Geranium, 86%) and DMC 3706 (Melon medium, 82%).
Which Valdani threads are close to 46?
The closest Valdani threads to 46 are 71 Carnation medium (ΔE 5.61), 62 Salmon (ΔE 7.95), and O520 Rose (ΔE 8.46). These are useful substitutes when 46 is unavailable or for building gradients.
What is Valdani 46 good for?
Valdani 46 (Carnation light) is commonly used in cross-stitch projects featuring barn scenes, tomato patterns, roses, hearts. Its medium-light tone works well for standalone motifs and as part of larger palettes. This page includes color harmonies and similar shades to pair with 46.
Does Valdani 46 (Carnation light) vary between dye lots?
Some. As a hand-dyed floss, 46 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.