DMC 28 to Sullivans: Thread Conversion
The closest Sullivans equivalent to DMC 28 (Medium Dusty Purple) is Sullivans 45426.
Close MatchHex #C8A8D8 · 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 45426 sits in the correct general territory for this dusty medium purple, earning a close rating that accurately reflects the difficulty of matching DMC 28's specific character. The warm-gray dustiness of DMC 28 is the quality most at risk of being lost in any cross-brand substitution — most manufacturers' medium purples trend cleaner, brighter, or more lavender-like than DMC 28's deliberately aged, gray-warm character. Sullivans 45426 may represent a cleaner or slightly cooler medium purple rather than the specific muted quality that makes 28 so valuable in vintage and earthy palettes. Sullivans thread also has a different twist density and hand from DMC, which can subtly affect how a subtle muted color reads once stitched on fabric versus in the skein. A close color in the skein can read differently on the needle than expected, particularly with muted and dusty colors where the twist affects how the gray notes catch or absorb ambient light. A test swatch on your project fabric under your working light is worthwhile before using Sullivans 45426 in any palette that relies on the dusty, warm-gray quality for its vintage aesthetic. Compare against a known clean medium purple to confirm the dustiness is present before committing to large heather, dried flower, or Japandi-aesthetic fills.
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 28, 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 28 to Sullivans 45426
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 28 is unavailable and Sullivans 45426 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 28 and Sullivans 45426 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 28 and Sullivans 45426: 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 28 to Sullivans FAQ
These answers are the same statements published in this page's FAQ structured data.
What is the Sullivans equivalent of DMC 28?+
The closest Sullivans equivalent to DMC 28 (Medium Dusty Purple) is Sullivans 45426. This is a close match.
Is the DMC 28 to Sullivans conversion exact?+
The conversion from DMC 28 (Medium Dusty Purple) to Sullivans 45426 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 28 and Sullivans 45426 in the same project?+
You can use DMC 28 and Sullivans 45426 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 28
Similar DMC Colors
Shades closest to DMC 28 — handy if Sullivans 45426 isn't quite right:
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