DMC 161 to J&P Coats: Thread Conversion

J&P Coats 7023 is a close match in the medium-dark grey-blue range, providing a practical option for North American stitchers who have J&P Coats more readily available locally. For nautical motifs, coastal samplers, and historical military uniform designs where 161 carries shadow and depth responsibility — the darkest value that anchors the grey-blue gradient and provides the visual weight that lighter values read against — J&P Coats 7023 is a practical domestic option worth considering. Check the grey-blue balance in natural daylight: a version that tips toward warmer undertones or reads as more purely blue will not perform correctly as a shadow in sequences designed around the cooler, muted grey-blue character of the DMC original. The grey component is the functional quality that makes 161 suitable for stone, aged nautical materials, overcast northern water, and denim shadows; without it the thread reverts to simply being a medium-dark blue, which is a different tool for a different job. Thread construction differences between J&P Coats and DMC may affect coverage in large fill areas, so confirm coverage uniformity on a test swatch of your project fabric before proceeding.