90 — Light Soft Blue
Blues family#9CAAB0
Valdani 90 — Light Soft Blue — has hex #9CAAB0 and RGB 156, 170, 176. This medium-light, subdued blue thread sits alongside its closest DMC, Anchor, and Madeira matches below, with 8 similar Valdani shades and a panel of color harmonies for palette planning.
Brand Equivalents for Valdani 90
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 90
Closest Valdani threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with Valdani 90
It has moderate contrast on both light and dark fabric — usable on either, but test a few stitches on your chosen ground first.
Hand-dyed threads like Valdani 90 (Light Soft Blue) are never perfectly flat; expect soft variegation. Stock up in a single dye lot up front, since later batches can read noticeably different.
Valdani 90 (Light Soft Blue) sits a hair from Valdani O558 (Blue Suave) (ΔE 1.49) — close enough to blend a strand of each for a smooth gradient or to swap one for the other in a pinch.
Color Harmonies for Valdani 90
Valdani threads that pair well with 90, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Blues Family
Valdani90 in context with nearby shades from the blues color family.
About Valdani 90
Meet Valdani 90, Light Soft Blue — a subdued, medium-light thread in the blues family with sky blue tones. Its tone is restrained and versatile, making it a popular choice for forget-me-nots and bluebird motifs. It pairs nicely in designs that call for whale designs or sapphire accents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Valdani 90 — what color is it?
The color of Valdani 90 is Light Soft Blue — a medium-light blue thread (hex #9CAAB0, RGB 156, 170, 176). It shows up most in water and denim textures.
What is the DMC equivalent of Valdani 90?
The closest DMC match for Valdani 90 (Light Soft Blue) is DMC 3752 (Antique Blue very light) with a 83% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include DMC 168 (Pewter very light, 81%) and DMC 415 (Pearl Grey, 76%).
Which Valdani threads are close to 90?
The closest Valdani threads to 90 are O558 Blue Suave (ΔE 1.49), O117 Dove Tail Grey (ΔE 5.78), and JP12 Seaside (ΔE 6.73). These are useful substitutes when 90 is unavailable or for building gradients.
What is Valdani 90 good for?
Valdani 90 (Light Soft Blue) is commonly used in cross-stitch projects featuring water, denim textures, cool-toned backgrounds, nautical themes. 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 90.
Does Valdani 90 (Light Soft Blue) vary between dye lots?
Yes, mildly. Hand-dyed threads like 90 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.