286 DMC thread colors: how to choose yours

Opening the DMC color chart is a small indulgence: 286 shades lined up, from off-white to the deepest black, passing through every pink, green, and blue you can imagine. It's beautiful... and also a little overwhelming. How do you choose among so many? We'll give you the keys.

How the chart is organized

Each DMC color has a unique number: 310 is black, white is "B5200" or "Blanc", and from there, the shades are grouped by family. The important thing: that number is universal. If a pattern calls for DMC 666, that red will be the same here and anywhere else in the world. That's why it's always best to go by the number, not the color name.

If you follow a pattern

Easy: the pattern tells you exactly which numbers you need in its legend. Don't improvise substitutions at first; designers carefully choose the shades to ensure the gradient works. Buy the numbers it asks for and play it safe.

If you choose the colors yourself

This is where the fun begins. Some tricks to keep you from getting lost:

• Work by shade families: choose a base color and its lighter and darker neighbors. Three shades from the same family give volume and realism to flowers, leaves, or skies.
• Use the contrast rule: if your entire piece is in soft tones, the drawing will "get lost." Reserve a dark tone for the outlines, and the motif will come alive.
• Look at the thread in daylight: the warm light at home changes colors significantly. If you can, make your decision by a window.

A golden tip: buy extra for backgrounds

If a color covers a large area (a sky, a background), estimate generously and buy an extra skein. Running out of thread halfway through and having the new batch be a slightly different shade is one of the few disappointments that truly shows in the final result.

In summary

Go by the number, not the name; follow the legend if you have a pattern, and play with shade families if you're choosing yourself. And remember: thread is the perfect complement to your piece, so it's worth having good colors on hand. Discover all 286 shades in our DMC threads chart.