How DMC numbers work
Every color of DMC six-strand floss has a number and a name, such as 310 Black, B5200 Snow White, Blanc and Ecru. The number is what charts use and what you buy; the name just helps you recognize it. Numbers next to each other are not always similar colors, so search by number or by name.
Screen colors are approximate
The swatches come from community color data, not from DMC. Screens, lighting and dye lots all change how a color looks, so treat the swatch as a guide and the number as the answer. If two shades look alike on screen, compare the real skeins at the store.
From floss to beads
Floss and bead colors were never made to match, so the chart shows the closest bead in each brand with a ΔE value: under about 2 the difference is hard to see, above 10 it is clearly another color. Use it to turn a stitch design into a bead version, or let the pattern makers do the matching for you.
Keeping your floss in order
- Shop from the colors your chart lists, not the whole range.
- Write the number on the bobbin when you wind the floss: paper bands get lost, numbers stay.
- Keep the bobbins in number order in a box or on a ring, so you can find a color in seconds.
Questions
How many DMC colors are there?
About 500 in the six-strand cotton range, including the newer numbers 01 to 35. The chart covers the standard solid colors.
What color is DMC 310?
Black, the most used DMC color. B5200 is the brightest white, Blanc a standard white and Ecru an off-white.
Which bead is closest to a DMC color?
Search the number: the chart shows the closest Hama Midi, Perler and Artkal S bead, each with its ΔE.
Are the colors exact?
No. They are approximations from community data. Buy by the number, and compare real skeins when a shade matters.
Is Pixelplan affiliated with DMC?
No. DMC® is a trademark of its owner; the numbers are used only to say which floss to buy.