How To Match Embroidery Colors Like A Pro
Color matching can be tricky to do, but there are plenty of different methods out there to choose from. Whether you’re a beginner or you’re a seasoned artist, these tips and tools are sure to help make the process convenient and easy!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase an item.
Color Matching With a Thread Card
Whether you’re pulling colors from a photo or you’re trying to find a similar color in another thread brand, the most helpful analog tool to have in your toolkit is a thread card.
These cards are available from different embroidery thread manufacturers and they include all of the different colors and color codes that they have available.
I personally recommend using a threaded card over a printed card, because the colors will appear more accurate.
Color Matching With Online Tools
Want to pull colors from a photo but you’re having trouble finding the perfect match by eye? The Thread Match Maker allows you to upload a photo, color drop an image, and the app will then suggest a variety of different embroidery thread colors. Select between Anchor, Cosmo, DMC, or Maderia.
Finding A Similar Color
Looking for a replacement color in a pattern? Thread Bare has a helpful tool to find similar DMC colors. They also have a tool that matches hex codes and RGB colors to the nearest thread color.
Matching Between Different Brands of Threads
If you’re looking to match colors between different brands of threads, you can utilize a color substitution chart.
Here are just a few of the most common brands:
I hope you find these tools helpful! Want to learn even more? I think you’ll love this post all about choosing color palettes for embroidery or this tutorial on organizing embroidery thread.
And if you’re looking to dive even deeper into color selection for thread painting, I have lots of exclusive video tutorials and tips on my Patreon.
Amanda is a hand embroidery teacher and artist. With over 15 years of experience in the craft industry and embroidery, she owns and runs Crewel Ghoul, sharing accessible tutorials and patterns to help inspire fellow crafters to get creative. In addition to running this website, she teaches on Skillshare and Youtube.
