873 — Antique Blue very dark
Blues family
Looking up Valdani 873? It's Antique Blue very dark, a dark blue shade (#23384F / RGB 35, 56, 79). Scroll down for Crescent Colours, DMC, and Anchor equivalents ranked by visual similarity, plus 8 close Valdani alternatives and curated color harmonies.
Brand Equivalents for Valdani 873
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 873
Closest Valdani threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with Valdani 873
It pops on white and light fabric but nearly disappears on black, so pair it with a light or neutral ground.
Hand-dyed threads like Valdani 873 (Antique Blue very dark) 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 873
Valdani threads that pair well with 873, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Blues Family
Valdani 873 in context with nearby shades from the blues color family.
About Valdani 873
Known as Antique Blue very dark, Valdani 873 is a dark, moderately saturated shade sitting in the blues family with sky blue tones. Expect a strong and confident look that suits cool-toned backgrounds, nautical themes, and similar motifs. Cross stitch enthusiasts often reach for this thread when stitching winter scenes or forget-me-nots.
Frequently Asked Questions
Valdani 873 — what color is it?
The color of Valdani 873 is Antique Blue very dark — a dark blue thread (hex #23384F, RGB 35, 56, 79). It shows up most in porcelain patterns and hydrangea blooms.
What is the DMC equivalent of Valdani 873?
The closest DMC match for Valdani 873 (Antique Blue very dark) is DMC 3750 (Antique Blue very dark) with a 100% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include DMC 930 (Antique Blue dark, 75%) and DMC 311 (Navy Blue medium, 73%).
Which Valdani threads are close to 873?
The closest Valdani threads to 873 are O126 Antique Blue dark (ΔE 4.94), O592 Navy Blue medium (ΔE 5.48), and 105 Wedgewood dark (ΔE 6.17). These are useful substitutes when 873 is unavailable or for building gradients.
What is Valdani 873 good for?
Valdani 873 (Antique Blue very dark) is commonly used in cross-stitch projects featuring porcelain patterns, hydrangea blooms, skies, water. Its dark tone works well for standalone motifs and as part of larger palettes. This page includes color harmonies and similar shades to pair with 873.
Does Valdani 873 (Antique Blue very dark) vary between dye lots?
Some. As a hand-dyed floss, 873 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.