DMC 825 — Dark Blue

Quick Conversion Table

Brand	Equivalent	Match	Buy links
Anchor	162	close	Amazon → LoveCrafts →
Madeira	1011	exact	Amazon → LoveCrafts →
Cosmo ⚠	255	close	Amazon → LoveCrafts →
Sullivans	45226	close	Amazon → LoveCrafts →
J&P Coats	7181	close	Amazon → LoveCrafts →
Dimensions	17181	close	Amazon → LoveCrafts →

DMC 825 — The Workhorse Dark Blue Every Stitcher Needs

Some colors are stars. DMC 825 is the reliable supporting actor that makes every scene work. Called simply "Dark Blue," this shade occupies that essential middle ground between true navy and medium blue — and that is exactly what makes it indispensable.

Look at your thread collection and count how many blues you own. Now ask yourself: which one do you reach for when a pattern just says "dark blue" without further specification? For many stitchers, the answer is 825. It is the default, the workhorse, the color that fills in oceans on maps, forms the base of denim in portrait work, and provides the shadowed side of sky gradients.

The hex value (#4781A5) tells part of the story — this is a blue with a moderate amount of grey in it, which keeps it from veering into the electric or royal territory. That grey undertone is what gives 825 its versatility. It plays well with warm palettes because it does not fight with reds and oranges the way a purer blue might. And it recedes gently in landscape designs, providing depth without drawing the eye away from focal points.

Where 825 really earns its keep is in shading. It sits comfortably between DMC 824 (Very Dark Blue) and DMC 826 (Medium Blue), forming the middle step in one of DMC's most useful blue gradients. If your pattern calls for smooth blue transitions — think ocean waves, twilight skies, or blue-toned florals — this trio gives you a professional result with minimal effort.

One practical note: 825 is among the blues that benefit from consistent stitch direction. Because it sits in that mid-dark range, light catches the thread differently depending on angle. Keeping your top stitches all going the same direction ensures an even appearance across large filled areas.

Thread quality is solid and consistent across dye lots, which matters when you are buying multiple skeins for a large project. DMC has kept this shade remarkably stable over the years — a skein purchased today should match one from a decade ago without issue.

Finding the Right Match for DMC 825 Dark Blue

Substituting 825 requires a bit more care than you might expect for such a "plain" color. The Anchor equivalent is listed as 162, but this is rated a close match rather than exact. Anchor 162 can lean slightly more teal in certain dye lots, so compare carefully before committing. If you find that 162 is pulling too green, try Anchor 164 as an alternative.

Madeira 1011 is an exact match and generally the safest substitute if you are switching brands entirely. The thread weight and sheen are comparable to DMC, and coverage on standard Aida counts is virtually identical.

Cosmo 255 is a close match with one caveat: Cosmo's cotton has a noticeably softer hand than DMC, which some stitchers prefer and others find too slippery. The color itself is a good visual match, but the stitching experience will feel different.

Because 825 is such a frequently used utility blue, it is worth keeping extra skeins on hand rather than substituting mid-project. Color shifts that are invisible on a single stitch can become noticeable over hundreds of stitches in a large fill area. When you must substitute, always compare threads side by side on your actual project fabric, not on a white background.

Reference quality

How We Validate This Color Record

Use this page as a reference card for DMC 825: the structured data, quick conversions, and long-form copy are all tied back to the same stored color record.

Methodology: This page renders DMC 825, its hex value, and every brand equivalent from the site's source-of-truth color record, then checks long-form body copy against those same stored fields.
Verification status: Source-field checked. The page content is audited against the stored DMC number, brand equivalents, and match-quality labels before publishing.
Last reviewed: 2026-04-20
Approximation warning: Screen hex values, thread photos, and cross-brand conversions are reference aids. Dye lots, thread sheen, and fabric color can still shift the result in hand.

Read the Stitchies methodology

Decision guide

When to use the DMC 825 reference page

This page should help you decide faster between palette planning, brand substitution, and shade comparison without turning the color record into a thin lookup page.

Best for

+ Palette planning when you want the stored DMC 825 Dark Blue record, hex value #4781A5, and linked brand equivalents in one place.
+ Checking the quickest cross-brand shortlist before you buy floss, compare stash substitutes, or route into a more specific conversion page.
+ Finding nearby shades in the blues family before you commit to accents, shading, or background blends.

Watch for

! Screen previews are only reference aids. Dark Blue can shift on real fabric because thread sheen, stitch coverage, and room lighting change how the color reads.
! A stored equivalent is still a shortlist, not a guarantee that two brands will disappear into each other in the same stitched motif.
! Older charts, discontinued kit floss, and dye-lot variation can all introduce small but visible differences that the page cannot detect for you.

Before you commit

Confirm the role of DMC 825 Dark Blue: decide whether you need an exact hero shade, a forgiving background, or a rough stash substitute.
Compare on project fabric: view the skein or stitched sample on the same fabric count and color you will actually use.
Use the linked conversion pages next: open the brand-specific pages when you need match-quality caveats before substituting away from the DMC reference.