861 — Faded Rust Light
Oranges family#CA927A
Looking up Valdani 861? It's Faded Rust Light, a medium-light orange shade (#CA927A / RGB 202, 146, 122). 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 861
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 861
Closest Valdani threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with Valdani 861
It has moderate contrast on both light and dark fabric — usable on either, but test a few stitches on your chosen ground first.
For skin, hands, and faces, Valdani 861 (Faded Rust Light) is a plausible mid-value — pair it with a highlight and a shadow tone from the same family for believable modeling.
Valdani is hand-dyed, so Valdani 861 (Faded Rust Light) 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.
Color Harmonies for Valdani 861
Valdani threads that pair well with 861, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Oranges Family
Valdani861 in context with nearby shades from the oranges color family.
About Valdani 861
A medium-light, moderately saturated entry in the oranges family, Valdani 861 carries the name Faded Rust Light with deep amber tones. The shade reads as steady and approachable — a go-to choice for pumpkins and marigolds. It also turns up in patterns built around fall wreaths and citrus motifs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What color is Valdani 861?
Valdani 861 is called Faded Rust Light. It's a medium-light orange shade (hex #CA927A, RGB 202, 146, 122) in the oranges family, commonly used for persimmon patterns, autumn leaves, and similar motifs.
What's the closest DMC match for Valdani 861?
The closest DMC match for Valdani 861 (Faded Rust Light) is DMC 758 (Terra Cotta very light) with a 79% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include DMC 3773 (Desert Sand Medium, 78%) and DMC 3771 (Terra Cotta ultra very light, 77%).
What's a good substitute for Valdani 861?
The closest Valdani threads to 861 are H206 Washed Orange (ΔE 3.78), JP6 Muddy Pots (ΔE 6.08), and 62 Peach Rose Light (ΔE 6.96). These are useful substitutes when 861 is unavailable or for building gradients.
What projects use Valdani 861?
Cross-stitchers pull Valdani 861 (Faded Rust Light) for charts featuring persimmon patterns, autumn leaves, sunsets, warm accents. The medium-light tone reads cleanly on its own and slots into multi-color palettes — see the color harmonies below for pairing ideas.
Does Valdani 861 (Faded Rust Light) vary between dye lots?
Yes, mildly. Hand-dyed threads like 861 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.