DMC 160 to Sullivans: Thread Conversion
The closest Sullivans equivalent to DMC 160 (Medium Gray Blue) is Sullivans 45475.
Close MatchHex #999FB7 · blues 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 45475 is a close match in the medium grey-blue range, covering the correct Wedgwood-blue territory. Confirm the shade reads as a properly greyed medium blue rather than a bright or warm medium blue — the steely, composed quality is the functional purpose of this thread, and a substitute that loses the grey component reads as a different color family entirely. At this middle saturation level, Sullivans thread coverage is generally comparable to DMC with two strands on 14-count Aida, which is reassuring given the large-fill workhorse role that 160 typically plays. The medium value means this is a comfortable zone for brand comparison — it's at the extreme dark and very pale values where pigment density differences between brands create the largest visible gaps. Before proceeding to a large fill of castle stone, overcast sky, harbour water, or denim-register clothing, compare the grey-blue balance in Sullivans 45475 against your other threads in the palette rather than evaluating it alone. A substitute that reads even slightly warmer or more blue-shifted than the adjacent DMC 159 and 161 will disrupt the steely, coherent grey-blue quality that makes the full family effective in these applications.
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 160, 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 160 to Sullivans 45475
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 160 is unavailable and Sullivans 45475 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 160 and Sullivans 45475 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 160 and Sullivans 45475: 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 160 to Sullivans FAQ
These answers are the same statements published in this page's FAQ structured data.
What is the Sullivans equivalent of DMC 160?+
The closest Sullivans equivalent to DMC 160 (Medium Gray Blue) is Sullivans 45475. This is a close match.
Is the DMC 160 to Sullivans conversion exact?+
The conversion from DMC 160 (Medium Gray Blue) to Sullivans 45475 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 160 and Sullivans 45475 in the same project?+
You can use DMC 160 and Sullivans 45475 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 160
Similar DMC Colors
Shades closest to DMC 160 — handy if Sullivans 45475 isn't quite right:
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