DMC Floss Number Codes and Colors - Guide

[Moirae]

I was mostly putting this together for myself for reference, but I thought others might find it useful. There are so many conflicting numbers and lists, I did my best to get it all straight and determine the correct number of each colors checking against both DMC US and UK as well as other retailers that carry DMC products... and also counting them myself because DMC would frequently do something like say it only has 35 colors and then list 36 colors underneath for sale.

Mouline Special 25 - This is the regular 6-strand divisible cotton floss we commonly find in numbered bins at big craft stores.
It is 100% Egyptian cotton and double mercerized (a chemical application that increases luster and strength). - 8 m (8.7 Yards)

# 01-35 ---- Newest solid colors (2017) [35 colors]
# 48-125 --- Variegated colors, single color with shades from light to dark [18 colors]*
(available individually or in a pack containing 2 of each color)
*There were 37 colors before 2002. It was really difficult to find any information on these, but, from looking at old colors cards, these should be all the discontinued colors

Spoiler: show

Discontinued Variegated Colors: 57, 61, 62, 75, 91, 95, 101, 102, 103, 104, 108, 112, 113, 114, 116, 122, 123, 124, 126 [19 colors]

# 150-996, 3011-3866, BLANC (White), B5200 (Snow White), and ECRU --- Old solid colors [ US - 454 colors; UK/EU - 447 colors]**
**8 Solid Colors were discontinued in the early 2000s

Spoiler: show

This was possibly either due to changes in dye regulations in the EU or because there was another color that was practically the same.
I've stitched with 731 and 732 next to each other before and it was extremely difficult to distinguish between the two colors.
7 are still available in the US/North America [504, 731, 776, 781, 806, 971, 3773].
The last color is 868 - Hazel Nut Brown. I've seen a few references and examples of this color code, but I haven't actually seen it listed on any of the old color sample cards or in any patterns so far.

# 3880-3895 --- New solid colors (2013) [16 colors]
These colors are hard to find and are exclusively available to purchase as a floss pack and only in the US.

Spoiler: show

This retailer doesn't have them in stock, but has a copy of the original press release card from DMC that shows all the names and what 2 colors each one falls between.
https://www.jodylifearts.com/index.php? ... ct_id=1338

123stitch currently has the 2013 New Colors Floss Pack in stock
https://www.123stitch.com/item/DMC-2013 ... ck/DMC2013

Here's a list of suitable color substitutions if you want to stitch a pattern that uses any of these 24 limited availability/discontinued solid colors.
https://www.thread-bare.com/2017/07/09/ ... mc-threads

List/pictures of the old pre-2002 Floss Sample/Color Card which includes the discontinued colors (except 868), but is missing many newer colors. It can be helpful in determining what color to substitute for the discontinued variegated threads.
http://www.yarntree.com/075dmc.htm

Lord Libidan has a detailed post on his blog regarding the 35 new colors from fall 2017.
https://lordlibidan.com/dmcs-35-new-threads/

[Moirae]

Other Threads

# 2000s --- DMC's Flower Thread (discontinued in 2003) [180 colors]
If you've ever found yourself wondering why the DMC numbers skip to 3000, it's because they use to produce a line of Flower Thread. This is a matte (not mercerized) twisted non-divisible thread. The thickness falls between 2 and 3 strands of standard floss.

If you find a pattern using these number codes, some vendors carry old stock and have about half the colors still available or you can substitute with 2-3 strands of regular embroidery floss. Here's a link to a color code conversion chart.
http://www.doishugei.com/embroidery/thr ... _dmc25.pdf

# 4000s
#4000-4265 --- Color Variations - Variegated 6-strand floss similar to an overdyed floss with a gradual color change usually within the same color family. Sometimes listed with a V in front of the number. 8 m (8.7 Yards) [60 colors]
#4500-4523 --- Coloris - Variegated 6-strand floss with 4 colors, the color changes faster than the Variations and sometimes to a different color family (for example: from 3 shades of blue to a red). Slightly more expensive than Variations. 8 m (8.7 Yards) [24 colors]

One of the few color cards/chart that shows all 60 Color Variations
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/e5/fe/2f/e5fe ... 392ab2.jpg

S prefix- Floss numbers that starts with an 'S' are part of DMC's Satin Floss line. 8 m (8.7 yards) [60 colors]
These are 6-strand Rayon thread. They are far shinier and smoother than cotton floss, but they also cost more and are slippery and more difficult to work with. There aren't as many colors available, but they use the same color codes as their cotton counterparts(i.e. cotton uses 931, rayon uses S931).

E prefix - Floss numbers that starts with an 'E' are part of DMC's Light Effects line. This is a sparkley 6-strand polyester floss line that is made up of specialty threads such as metallics, jewel tones, pearlescent and fluorescent colors. Once again, color codes correspond to cotton counterparts for the most part with the exception of the colors that don't exist in the normal line. 8 m (8.7 Yards) [36 colors]
Available individually

Spoiler: show

E130, E135, E155, E168 (same as 5283), E211, E301, E310, E316, E317, E321, E334, E415, E436, E677, E699,
E703, E718, E746, E747, E815, E818, E825, E898, E940*, E966, E967, E980, E990,
E3685, E3747, E3821 (same as 5282), E3837, E3843 (same as 5290), E3849, E3852 (same as 5284), E5200

*E940 is DMC's glow in the dark thread.

There are additional light effects colors available in thread packs only (6 different colored skeins per pack) [24 colors]
Thread Packs
italics indicates colors are also available in individual skeins

Spoiler: show

Classical Blends Thread Pack
Midnight Madness E133
Majestic Metals E144
Emerald Isle E136
Purple Essence E148
Deep Water Blue E150
Pink Shimmer E152

Fluorescent Thread Pack
Tropical Pink E1010
Neon Yellow E980
Bright Orange 1020
Electric Blue E1040
Luminous Lavender E1050
Neon Green E990
DMC website accidentally also lists Lemon Zest E985 - It is NOT included in this pack.

Multi Blends Thread Pack, also sold as Blended Favorites Light Effects Collection
E140 Tropical Delight
E146 Caribbean Ripples
E138 Opalescent Rays
E154 All That Jazz
E141 Holiday Sparkle
E131 Carnivale Fun

Tropical Glow
Lemon Zest E985
Tangerine Zing E1024
Melon Blast E995
Raspberry Rush E1055
Blueberry Blast E1026
Key Lime Splash E987

Additional Light Effects Thread Packs that contain no new colors

Spoiler: show

Holiday Thread Pack
all colors available separately
Red Ruby E321
Gemstones E130
Green Emerald E699
Light Gold E3821
Blue Sapphire E825
White E5200

Jewel (Tones) Thread Pack
all colors available separately
E316, E135, E3849, E718, E155, E334

Pearlescent Thread Pack
all colors available separately
E3747, E746, E966, E818, E747, E211

Antiques Pack
Only sold by DMC website, currently out of stock, all colors available separately
E310 (2 skeins), E3685, E415, E436, E898

Precious Metals Pack
Only sold by DMC website, currently out of stock, all colors available separately
E168, E301, E317, E3821, E3852, E677

[Moirae]

#5000s
5282 - Old color code use E3821 - Light Gold
5283 - Old color code use E168 - Silver
5284 - Old color code use E3852 - Dark Gold
5290 - use E3843 - Light Blue Sapphire
Some of these 5000s number codes are also used for Metallic Pearl Cotton. Double check you are ordering floss and not pearl cotton.

D prefix -Diamant Thread- This is a fairly new metallic line made in Japan. Nondivisible 3-ply and made up of viscose, rayon and metallic polyester. Comes on spools of 35 m (38.2 yards) [12 colors]
It's a little difficult to find, but I find this thread much easier to stitch with (smoother, less kinking and breakage) than the metallics from the light effects line. It has a thickness of about 2 strands of floss when stitching.

Spoiler: show

Currently available colors: Light Gold, Gold, Gold and Black, Light Silver, Silver, Copper, Ebony, Oak, Pink, Red, White, and Green

image source: DMC USA

Z suffix (also sometimes ZA) -- DMC Metallic Embroidery Thread, comes on spools of 40 m (43.7 Yards) [3 colors]
This thread was the most easily found/available metallic thread a long time ago. Generally found in older patterns. The thread is still available for purchase, but can be replaced with light effects floss as well.
282Z - Light Gold or use E3821 or D3821
283Z - Light Silver or use E168 or D168
284Z - Gold or use E3852 or D3852

THE GOLDEN SKEIN - Extraordinarily expensive (>$100/skein) thread with a 24 carat gold wash. Limited edition/collector's item.

There is a new DMC Color Card with real thread (not printed) available for $25.
https://www.dmc.com/us/color-card-35-ne ... 04428.html
This seems to have all the currently available individual colors from the Mouline Special 25 line including the 35 new colors and 18 variegated colors. The card also contains the Light Effects line and the Color Variations, but does not have the Coloris line or swatches for the 2 dozen newest Color Variations colors (circa 2012). Any colors only available in packs also seems to be excluded. The new edition is distinguishable from the old edition by its mostly white cover. The old card has an orange band on top and a large picture of a pile of skeins.

[Moirae]

Reserved Post - May add more at later time.

Some more possibly useful links to conversion and color code/name charts.

This is a DMC color chart for solid colors (newer ones not included).
It seems to have the actual color names for each number next to an approximate color example.
(ex: 367 Pistachio Green - DK)
http://www.camelia.sk/dmc_1.htm

This is another color chart with names but also has the RGB and Hex Color Code values for solids from 208 to 3799.
(ex: 367 Pistachio Green-DK 95 112 91 5F705B )
https://www.csh.rit.edu/~vance/pages/color.html

a couple Anchor to DMC conversion charts
http://juliesxstitch.com/stitching-tool ... conversion
https://www.stitchtastic.com/blog/stch/ ... ion-chart/

Here's a large sortable table with the following columns :
Color Name (Pic of) Color DMC DMC Madeira Anchor Gamma PNA them. Kirov MayFlower Dimensions Dome BEAM Bucilla
https://stitchart.net/en/tablica-perevoda-nitok-muline/

Various conversion tables including Sullivans, J&P Coats, Bucilla, Design Works Crafts, Candamar*, Dimensions and Anchor [to DMC]
http://www.cyberstitchers.com/stitching ... on_charts/
*Candamar is apparently the brand used for MCG Textiles kits (I'm not sure what other kits they do, but they produce(d) a lot of Disney kits including the Thomas Kinkade Disney Dreams Collection)

Weeks Dye Works to DMC conversion
https://www.stitchesnthings.com/WeeksToDMC.html
*Weeks Dye Works are over-dyed flosses and aren't all one color, so this is just a suggested possible substitution by this company.

Needlepoint, Inc. Silk to DMC Floss (and other silk conversions to non-dmc floss)
http://www.drawnthread.com/conversion.html

A few Cosmo/DMC conversion recommendations from various companies.
http://quilters-paradise.com/images/pdf ... _chart.pdf
http://www.drawnthread.com/Resources/Co ... ersion.pdf
(The drawnthread link also includes a table for Weeks Dye Works and Cosmos Seasons variegated floss)

[Firehawke]

This is FANTASTIC!!! Thank you for putting this together!

[mbiogirlumd]

I am bookmarking this RIGHT NOW!

[Moirae]

Added some links to color charts and conversion from various other floss brands/kit makers to DMC. I'll keep an eye out for any other companies' charts.