How to Choose Colors for an Embroidery Project

Choosing colors for an embroidery project can be wonderful, but also a bit overwhelming. DMC has hundreds of shades, and colors sometimes appear slightly different on a screen than in real life. Fortunately, you don’t have to do everything by feel. With Stitchonomy’s color tools you can look up, compare, combine colors and then immediately order the right embroidery threads.

In this article I will take you step by step along the most useful routes: from looking up a single DMC color to putting together a complete palette. Use the mini examples below as a quick guide, then click through to the full tool.

Start with your main color

First choose the color that sets the mood of your project. For flowers, that is often the main bloom; for landscapes, it may be the sky or foliage, and for lettering, it may be a shade that contrasts well with your fabric.

Do you already have a DMC number? Then open the digital DMC color chart or the DMC color pages. There you can quickly click through to more information and to the matching thread.

Use the color finder if you don’t know a number yet

Do you only know approximately what color you are looking for? The color finder is a good place to start. Search for a color name, number or shade and open the matching color page. This is useful if, for example, you have soft green, deep red or something between blue and purple in mind, but do not yet know a DMC number.

Use color families if you know which color family you want

Color families are useful if you already know that you want to use pink, blue, green or purple, for example, but you are not yet sure which DMC number matches it. A color family collects related shades that fall under that color name. With pink you not only see light, medium and dark, but also soft pink, dusty pink, fuchsia, coral-like shades and other colors within that family.

For example, you can start at pink, blue, green or purple. Each color page also shows the corresponding thread type and makes it easy to continue to the ordering page.

Use color series for light to dark

The page with DMC color series from light to dark is ideal if you are looking for a range of shades that blend smoothly from light to dark. Think of shadows in leaves, folds in clothing, flower petals or soft clouds.

Choose a ready-made color palette

Looking for inspiration? Explore the DMC color palettes and color combinations. There you will find curated palettes with a distinct mood, such as soft, bright or rich. They are useful if you make your own design, want to adjust a pattern or are looking for colors that already work well together.

The great thing is that you can then use such a palette as a starting point to order all the thread in one go.

Compare digitally with a real color chart

Digital tools are fast and handy, but for very precise color choices, a physical chart with real thread samples remains the most reliable. Screens differ per device. A color may appear warmer or brighter on your phone than on your laptop.

Also read how to use a DMC color chart. There I explain how to find thread numbers, compare loose skeins without labels, and order the correct shades using the chart.

Order your colors in one go

Have you chosen your numbers? You can add them all at once via Order DMC thread. The bulk order module is especially useful for larger projects: you enter several numbers at once, which helps prevent you from running out halfway through.

My quick color-selection routine

1. First choose the main color or mood for your project.
2. Find the color in the color finder or digital DMC color chart.
3. Scroll through color families if you know the broad color family, but not the exact DMC number.
4. Use color series for a light-to-dark gradient.
5. Use color palettes to find a harmonious combination quickly.
6. Order your chosen numbers via bulk ordering module.

This way, choosing colors becomes an enjoyable part of your embroidery project. Would you like to see all the color tools in one place? Then start at DMC color tools for embroidery, or browse all DMC stranded cotton shades.