DMC 156 to Sullivans: Thread Conversion
The closest Sullivans equivalent to DMC 156 (Medium Light Blue Violet) is Sullivans 45471.
Close MatchHex #A3AED1 · purples family
Only the DMC swatch is rendered as stored color data here. Compare the physical target skein before you assume a visual match.
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Conversion Notes
Sullivans 45471 is a close match in the medium-light periwinkle blue-violet range, covering the soft, atmospheric blue-violet that makes 156 so useful for landscape depth and sky work. Confirm the shade reads with the correct slightly greyed, desaturated quality — a substitute that reads as sharper, cleaner, or more vivid than the original will stand out where 156 would fade softly into the background, disrupting the atmospheric recession that landscape and background stitching depends on. If the Sullivans version reads as more saturated in direct comparison to the DMC original, it may work well in standalone periwinkle motifs where the extra saturation reads as fresh and clear, but it will disrupt aerial perspective effects where the greyed softness is the functional purpose of the thread choice. Coverage at this medium-light value level is generally straightforward with two strands on standard 14-count Aida. For gradient work in the 3746-155-156-3747 family, compare Sullivans 45471 to adjacent threads in natural daylight to confirm it reads correctly in sequence before proceeding with a large piece. The periwinkle ambiguity — neither firmly blue nor firmly purple — should be preserved in the Sullivans version.
Reference quality
How We Validate This Match
This Sullivans page is meant to help you shortlist a replacement quickly, then verify the physical skein before you mix brands in the same stitched area.
- Methodology
- This comparison uses the site's source-of-truth record for DMC 156, the stored Sullivans equivalent, and the saved close rating before rendering the page copy.
- Verification status
- Close cross-brand match. Treat it as a shortlist, not proof that the physical threads will be visually identical under every fabric and light condition.
- Source basis
- Published cross-brand floss chart mapping. Use it as a shortlist, then confirm with physical thread because sheen and dye lots still matter.
- Last reviewed
- 2026-04-20
- Best use
- Close and approximate matches work best for replacements, backups, or whole-project brand swaps after you stitch a small sample on the target fabric.
Decision guide
When to trust DMC 156 to Sullivans 45471
This page is strongest as a decision aid, not as a guarantee that two branded skeins will vanish into each other without testing.
Best for
- + Replacing missing floss when DMC 156 is unavailable and Sullivans 45471 is good enough after a stitched sample check.
- + Shortlisting a Sullivans substitute before you buy skeins, especially if your project can tolerate small differences in sheen or dye lot.
- + Comparing this Sullivans candidate against the other conversions and nearby DMC shades linked from the page before you commit to a full swap.
Watch for
- ! Close matches are not safe to assume interchangeable in focal areas without a physical test on your fabric.
- ! Brand sheen, strand thickness, and project lighting can make DMC 156 and Sullivans 45471 look further apart than the stored match rating suggests.
- ! If the design depends on smooth gradients or skin-tone transitions, compare this swap against the neighboring DMC shades before you substitute a large block.
Before you commit
- Compare DMC 156 and Sullivans 45471: lay the physical skeins together in daylight before you mix brands in the same stitched area.
- Test on your project fabric: stitch a small sample so fabric color and stitch density reveal whether the match still holds at full coverage.
- Keep a fallback ready: if the swap feels off, use the linked related DMC shades or another brand conversion instead of forcing the closest stored match.
DMC 156 to Sullivans FAQ
These answers are the same statements published in this page's FAQ structured data.
What is the Sullivans equivalent of DMC 156?+
The closest Sullivans equivalent to DMC 156 (Medium Light Blue Violet) is Sullivans 45471. This is a close match.
Is the DMC 156 to Sullivans conversion exact?+
The conversion from DMC 156 (Medium Light Blue Violet) to Sullivans 45471 is rated as a close match. Thread colors vary slightly between brands, so compare physical thread in daylight before stitching a large area.
Can I mix DMC 156 and Sullivans 45471 in the same project?+
You can use DMC 156 and Sullivans 45471 together when the close match is acceptable for your project, but always test them side by side on your fabric first because sheen and dye lots can create visible differences.
Other Conversions for DMC 156
Similar DMC Colors
Shades closest to DMC 156 — handy if Sullivans 45471 isn't quite right:
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