DMC Mouliné 553

553 is a purple from the DMC Mouliné range, the most widely used cotton for cross stitch. Each skein is 8 m long and separates into 6 strands, so you can stitch with the thickness that suits your fabric: usually 2 strands on 14-count Aida, 1 strand for outlines and backstitch, 3 or more on coarser fabrics. Double mercerising gives the thread its sheen and its resistance to washing.

Charts list colours by their DMC number; if your chart uses Anchor or another brand, the table shows the equivalent colours. Below are the shades closest to 553, useful for blending or for replacing a colour.