Organizing Your Thread by Color

Whether you use a thread rack, a special storage case or a drawer, our color coded spools and color numbering system make it easy to organize your thread into color families. We’ve made it easy– if you simply line up the threads with the color numbers in order, the spools will automatically be grouped by color families.

The color number is located on the bottom spool label just above the right hand corner of the bar code.

The new system is sequential and logical. Here’s the breakdown for the color families:
0001 to 999 White / Black / Greys (Neutrals)
1000 to 1999 Pinks
2000 to 2999 Reds
3000 to 3999 Purples
4000 to 4999 Blues
5000 to 5999 Aqua / Jades
6000 to 6999 Greens
7000 to 7999 Yellows / Golds / Oranges
8000 to 8999 Browns (Including Natural, Cream and beige)
9000 to 9999 Special Effects (Multi-colors, Twists, Metallics, Fluorescents, Tints, etc.)

We used 4 digits so that there was plenty of room to add colors between the shades without disrupting the logic. The first digit signifies a color family, the second digit signifies light, medium, or dark and the last two digits reference the unique color. Within the color family, colors are further grouped by shade so a low number like 4010 is a very light Crystal Blue, 4470 is a mid-range Yale Blue, and 4900 is Navy which is a dark color.

We have also made it easy for you to group your threads by type by color coding the spools. Each thread type has its own spool color. Here are some examples:

Lavender spool- Fine Thread Taupe spool- Heavy thread Turquoise Spool- Button & Craft thread Green Spool- Hand Quilting Thread Yellow Spool- Cotton All-Purpose thread Spa Blue Spool- Cotton Covered thread Mahogany Spool- Upholstery Thread

If you have older spools of Coats & Clark thread or spools that are not on the new snap spools, the numbers will be from our previous system. Below is a cross reference.

Old Dual Duty Plus Color No. New Dual Duty XP Color Numbers Color Name Old Dual Duty Plus Color No. New Dual Duty XP Color Numbers Color Name Old Dual Duty Plus Color No. New Dual Duty XP Color Numbers Color Name Old Dual Duty Plus Color No. New Dual Duty XP Color Numbers Color Name Old Dual Duty Plus Color No. New Dual Duty XP Color Numbers Color Name Old Dual Duty Plus Color No. New Dual Duty XP Color Numbers Color Name 01 0100 WHITE 73 C 7520 MAIZE 292 A 6980 OLIVENITE 420 4130 CORNFLOWER 590 8660 MANATEE (CRÈME DE COCOA) 4350 BABY BLUE 02 0900 BLACK 74 7540 GOLDENROD 293 A 6990 TAUPE GREEN 421 N 9272 BRIGHT SUN YELLOW 591 8170 COFFEE 4480 CASPIAN SEA 03 4720 CIEL 75 A 7760 DARK ORANGE 294 A 6120 CELERY 422 4670 COSMOS BLUE 592 8730 BROWN SUGAR 4560 BLUE JAY 04 4320 BLUE 77 A 7820 RUST 300 A 7830 BRIGHT RUST 422 N 9277 BRIGHT PUMPKIN 593 8390 ESPRESSO 4650 SUNWASHED BLUE 04 A 4370 MEDIUM BLUE 83 A 7040 JUNGLE GOLD 306 A 3250 LAUREL 427 5620 LIGHT AQUA 594 8970 FRENCH ROAST 4660 FADED DENIM 04 B 4450 PILOT BLUE 83 B 7450 TEMPLE GOLD 308 A 3390 ULTRA-VIOLET 429 5280 PARROT BLUE 800 9410 PEARL (METALLIC) 4740 BLUE RIDGE 04 D 4080 FIRMAMENT BLUE 83 F 7570 MINE GOLD 309 A 8230 CAMEL 432 5820 CARIBBEAN SEA 801 9440 GOLD (METALLIC) 4760 BLUE SLATE 04 E 4360 MIRACLE BLUE 91 3530 LILAC 310 A 1060 ALMOND PINK 434 N 9275 NEON TIGERLILY 802 9420 SILVER (METALLIC) 4780 BLUE STONE 05 4540 COPENHAGEN 96 3350 VIOLET 311 A 2950 HENNA BROWN 435 5480 ORIENTAL TEAL 803 9450 COPPER (METALLIC) 4860 INDIGO INK 05 B 4030 CIELO BLUE 97 3320 ORCHID 312 A 8840 COPPER MIST 437 N 9238 BRIGHT DEEP PURPLE 806 9460 EMERALD (METALLIC) 4920 GUNMETAL NAVY 09 4470 YALE BLUE 97 B 3660 DEEP VIOLET 314 A 3970 DEEP PURPLE 439 N 9257 BRIGHT AQUA GREEN 809 9430 BRIGHT GOLD (METALLIC) 4960 NIGHT WATCH 10 4270 MONACO BLUE 98 3690 PURPLE 315 A 3840 WILD IRIS 441 N 9267 BRIGHT KELLEY 810 9334 PLUM SHADOWS (MULTI) 5020 AQUA MARINE 12 3980 MARINE 102 8420 DARK LINEN 319 A 8860 SPANISH TILE 437 N 9238 BRIGHT DEEP PURPLE 811 9365 TEABERRIES (MULTI) 5040 BLUE HAWAII 12 A 4880 FREEDOM BLUE 102 A 8750 MAPLE SUGAR 320 A 1840 HOT PINK 439 N 9257 BRIGHT AQUA GREEN 811 9470 RUBY (METALLIC) 5080 GLOBAL BLUE 13 4900 NAVY 102 G 8820 DARK DOGWOOD 321 A 7250 SUN YELLOW 441 6780 DARK FOREST 812 9375 SANDSTONE (MULTI) 5520 AQUEOUS 14 4940 DARK NAVY 105 A 4630 AZURE BLUE 323 A 5980 SCOTS GREEN 441 N 9267 BRIGHT KELLEY 813 9345 OVER THE RAINBOS (MULTI) 5870 DARK JADE 15 A 7410 PONGEE 106 C 4550 SOLDIER BLUE 324 A 7750 KUMQUAT 444 6340 OLIVE 818 9336 PLUMBERRIES (MULTI) 6110 CELADON 16 8030 ECRU 108 1430 CORAL 326 A 3460 MULBERRY 448 6790 DK SPINACH 821 9377 FALL LEAVES (MULTI) 6260 LT. TOURMALINE 17 8050 BUFF 110 1490 DARK CORAL 328 3190 ROYAL PLUM 452 7460 SPANISH GOLD 823 9325 BOWL OF CHERRIES (MULTI) 6280 NEW LEAF 18 8040 BEIGE 116 8020 CREAM 331 5950 MISTY SPRUCE 462 7630 TANGERINE (ADVANCE ORANGE) 826 9373 SUNNY DAY (MULTI) 6320 LIGHT OLIVE 18 A 8550 TAUPE CLAIR 118 4640 MINIATURE BLUE 336 7710 ORANGE WHIP (DK PRIMROSE) 470 0150 WINTER WHITE 829 9382 OLD LACE (MULTI) 6470 LEPRECHAUN 21 B 8650 COCOON 122 A 5420 BLUE AQUA 337 6170 PEBBLE 473 8540 MUSHROOM 845 9343 BLUE CLOUDS (MULTI) 6570 FERN 23 A 0450 NUGREY 122 C 5550 MIST AQUA 341 4250 PERIWINKLE 475 8990 RAISIN 855 9363 SPRING GREEN (MULTI) 6640 SPEARMINT 24 0260 NICKEL 126 8440 KHAKI 347 6180 GREEN LINEN 480 0230 SILVER 865 9312 BABY PASTELS (MULTI) 6740 JUNIPER 26 0620 SLATE 127 A 6970 ARMY DRAB 354 1650 LAUREL ROSE 485 3820 LIGHT IRIS 880 9386 AUTUMN (MULTI) 6940 GOLDEN OLIVE 27 0750 SMOKE 128 2250 RED 357 8190 BROWN CHESTNUT 486 3570 SEA GRAPE 882 9314 SHERBET (MULTI) 7050 BRASS 28 0880 OXFORD GREY 128 A 2160 ATOM RED 359 6270 KIWI 487 3340 LIGHT VIOLET 887 9347 JEWELS (MULTI) 7110 LEMON FIZZ 30 1180 LIGHT PINK 132 A 5270 PARAKEET 361 6950 SAFARI 488 3440 PURPLE HAZE 889 9367 MEXICANA (MULTI) 7120 BABY YELLOW 31 1210 PINK 135 A 7950 TOMATO BISQUE 362 1040 SOFT MAUVE 491 3050 MAGENTA .004 C 9900 CLEAR (TRANSP) 7240 BANANA PEEL 32 1220 ROSE PINK 135 B 7940 CORAL RUST 370 0630 STONE 495 1020 POWDER PINK .004 S 9950 SMOKE (TRANSP) 7270 RUBBER DUCK 32 B 1830 DARK ROSE 135 C 7650 TANGO 371 0600 LT SLATE 499 N 0950 CELESTIAL BLACK (EXTREME BLACK) 780 SHARKSKIN 7430 HAY RIDE 32 C 1850 BRIGHT ROSE 136 C 2470 DEVIL RED 373 0850 CHARCOAL 505 4120 LIGHT CORNFLOWER 1080 DARK MAUVE 7470 AMBER 33 A 1980 MING CHERRY 138 5840 LIGHT JADE 375 3550 LAVENDER 506 4230 BLUE BONNET 1340 BUBBLEGUM 7620 PUMPKIN 34 C 2850 AMERICAN BEAUTY 139 A 5450 RIVER BLUE 379 3230 ROSE ORCHID 510 5160 RADIANT BLUE 1420 CORAL PINK 7640 ORANGE 35 A 3070 FUCHSIA 140 5570 ORIENTAL BLUE 381 3740 AMETHYST 511 5220 LIGHT PARAKEET 1440 SHRIMP 7670 BURNT ORANGE 36 A 2170 RED GERANIUM 140 B 5360 LT TEAL BLUE 385 1410 PINK CHAMPAGNE 512 5240 MALLARD 1520 ANTIQUE ROSE 7730 CREAMSICLE 38 2780 SCARLET 155 8530 DOGWOOD 387 1360 ELLEN ROSE 516 5760 MING TEAL 1560 CAMEO PINK 7740 LIGHT ORANGE 39 A 2680 RED CHERRY 157 A 7330 YELLOW 391 7850 BLUSH (DUSTY PEACH) 517 5750 BAHAMA 1590 MAUVE WOOD 7810 RED CLAY 39 B 2820 BARBERRY RED 158 1640 DK OLD ROSE 393 1350 COTTON CANDY (MEXICAN PINK) 520 6850 BRIGHT APPLE 1870 AZALEA 7840 PAPRIKA 41 A 2900 DARK RED 164 B 6360 BRONZE GREEN 394 1940 HOT PETUNIA 521 6750 HUNTER GREEN 1990 LIPSTICK 7890 RUM RAISIN 41 B 2980 MAROON 168 5050 TREASURE BLUE 400 N 75 ARCTIC WHITE (EXTREME WHITE) 524 6920 CHARTREUSE 2100 CHILI PEPPER 7910 PALE PEACH 47 8180 CAFÉ BEIGE 171 5140 ROCKET BLUE 401 N 9213 NEON PINK 525 6220 OKRA 2200 HERO RED 7920 PEACH BLUSH 48 A 8770 LONDON TAN 177 6550 KERRY GREEN 402 N 9265 NEON GREEN 530 7510 CHAMOIS 2300 CANDY APPLE 7930 SALMON 50 8890 DARK BROWN 182 7360 SPARK GOLD 404 N 9278 NEON ORANGE 531 7560 SAFFRON 2500 TOMATO 8140 GOLDEN TAN 51 8960 CHONA BROWN 184 2560 BRICK RUST 406 N 9225 BRIGHT RED 540 8000 PEARL 3090 RED PLUM 8220 LT. CAMEL 54 8380 SEAL BROWN 187 8630 DRIFTWOOD (BEAVER) 407 4620 CHAMBRAY 541 8430 FAWN 3140 MOCHA PLUM 8340 SAHARA 54 A 8360 SUMMER BROWN 190 5260 CRUISE BLUE 408 N 9271 NEON BRIGHT YELLOW 542 8120 TAN 3420 HEATHER 8450 DARK KHAKI 56 B 8980 CLOISTER BROWN 222 6840 LIME 409 4310 ICY BLUE 543 8240 HEMP 3480 MULBERRY WINE 8480 TWIG 57 6420 NILE GREEN 223 7260 MIMOSA 409 N 9245 BRIGHT SAPPHIRE 544 8060 PRALINE 3510 LILAC MIST 8670 DOLPHIN 57 A 6430 DARK NILE GREEN 224 7580 TORTOISE 411 4460 COMMODORE 545 8880 CHERRY MAHOGANY 3620 LAVENDER BLISS 8720 RAW SUGAR 58 6140 MIGNONETTE 239 1470 FLAMINGO 411 N 9215 BRIGHT FUCHSIA 550 0520 DARK SILVER 3860 VINTAGE PURPLE 8950 CHOCOLATE 58 A 6050 POWDER GREEN 256 8010 NATURAL 412 4580 BLUE CHIP 565 5130 HUMMINGBIRD BLUE 4020 SEPTEMBER SKY 9115 PINK TINT 58 B 5720 SPRAY GREEN 277 3040 RED ROSE 412 N 9255 BRIGHT PARAKEET 566 5660 AQUA 4040 HYACINTH 9135 LAVENDER TINT 59 6070 SAGE 279 5380 DARK TEAL 413 4190 ADMIRAL 571 6620 BRIGHT MINT 4060 THUNDERCLOUD 9145 BLUE TINT 61 6030 CLOUDY JADE 280 7870 RUSTANA RED 415 N 9274 BRIGHT GOLD 572 6160 LT GREEN LINEN 4070 CLOUDY BLUE 9155 AQUA TINT 61 A 6770 FOREST GREEN 282 A 3760 LT PURPLE 417 4840 DK MIDNIGHT 576 6240 PERIDOT 4150 TRUE BLUE 9165 GREEN TINT 62 6530 EMERALD 284 A 1540 CHINA ROSE 418 4980 BLUE BLACK 577 6210 LT OKRA 4160 CRAYON BLUE 9170 YELLOW TINT 63 A 6670 FIELD GREEN 287 A 6450 BRIGHT GREEN 418 N 9218 BRIGHT CORAL 581 8150 SPICE (CINNAMON) 4280 BLUE RIBBON 9175 PEACH TINT 72 A 7310 PRIMROSE 291 A 6380 SPINACH 419 4010 CRYSTAL BLUE 586 7860 TERRACOTTA 4290 INDIGO 9185 CHAMPAGNE TINT