Brother to Marathon Polyester thread conversion chart

Every Brother Embroidery color with its closest Marathon Polyester equivalent, a rating for how close it is and two runner-up options. There are 61 rows. Click any number for the full breakdown.

16%very close or better

70%close or better

61Brother Embroidery colors

301Marathon Polyester colors

Near identical 2
Very close 8
Close 33
Approximate 14
Poor match 4

Reverse: Marathon Polyester → Brother Convert a design's list Shop Marathon Polyester ↗

61 colors

					Match	Alternatives
900	Black	→	2150	Dark Grey	Poor match ΔE 11.2	2306 2285
001	White	→	2271	Cloud Dancer	Close ΔE 4.1	2116 2115
800	Red	→	2176	Honeysuckle	Close ΔE 3.5	2182 2053
085	Pink	→	2009	Begonia Pink	Close ΔE 4.2	2011 2012
086	Deep Rose	→	2039	Azalea	Close ΔE 3.5	2010 2167
124	Flesh Pink	→	2163	Light Pink	Close ΔE 2.8	2170 2177
107	Dark Fuchsia	→	2042	Dark Pink	Very close ΔE 2.0	2168 2169
030	Vermilion	→	2053	Paprika	Close ΔE 2.4	2152 2176
807	Carmine	→	2183	Bashful Pink	Very close ΔE 1.7	2039 2179
869	Royal Purple	→	2060	Grape Wine	Approximate ΔE 6.7	2084 2083
620	Magenta	→	2082	Laurie Lilac	Approximate ΔE 5.6	2060 2059
079	Salmon Pink	→	2164	Pink	Very close ΔE 1.2	2178 2034
333	Amber Red	→	2042	Dark Pink	Approximate ΔE 7.8	2040 2211
202	Lemon Yellow	→	2017	Light Yellow	Close ΔE 5.0	2155 2016
205	Yellow	→	2155	Lemon	Approximate ΔE 5.1	2018 2005
206	Harvest Gold	→	2020	Canary	Near identical ΔE 0.9	2019 2005
208	Orange	→	2156	Merit Gold	Very close ΔE 2.0	2023 2022
126	Pumpkin	→	2157	Mango	Close ΔE 4.3	2156 2023
209	Tangerine	→	2157	Mango	Close ΔE 4.8	2050 2024
010	Cream Brown	→	2154	Tender Yellow	Close ΔE 4.8	2016 2158
812	Cream Yellow	→	2016	Pale Yellow	Close ΔE 2.8	2017 2158
348	Khaki	→	2275	Rattan	Approximate ΔE 5.4	2025 2159
214	Deep Gold	→	2022	Gold	Close ΔE 2.4	2023 2156
328	Brass	→	2025	Old Gold	Close ΔE 4.0	2162 2028
307	Linen	→	2119	Shell	Close ΔE 4.5	2118 2120
058	Dark Brown	→	2285	Espresso	Poor match ΔE 10.3	2135 2150
337	Reddish Brown	→	2051	Orange	Close ΔE 3.1	2052 2049
339	Clay Brown	→	2052	Orange	Close ΔE 3.2	2051 2049
843	Beige	→	2255	Cocoa Mulch	Close ΔE 2.7	2158 2154
399	Warm Gray	→	2142	Hushed Violet	Close ΔE 3.2	2273 2297

					Match	Alternatives
330	Russet Brown	→	2111	Palmetto	Poor match ΔE 11.2	2028 2250
323	Light Brown	→	2030	Copper	Close ΔE 3.1	2029 2175
542	Seacrest	→	2237	Pale Aqua	Very close ΔE 2.2	2235 2238
502	Mint Green	→	2101	Spruce	Close ΔE 4.2	2240 2236
509	Leaf Green	→	2241	Green	Close ΔE 4.2	2015 2240
519	Olive Green	→	2254	Dark Army Green	Approximate ΔE 5.6	2114 2107
517	Dark Olive	→	2111	Palmetto	Approximate ΔE 5.4	2253 2250
534	Teal Green	→	2218	Brite Jade	Close ΔE 2.8	2108 2104
507	Emerald Green	→	2105	Green Bay	Approximate ΔE 6.0	2103 2242
808	Deep Green	→	2251	Evergreen	Approximate ΔE 5.5	2107 2268
027	Fresh Green	→	2017	Light Yellow	Approximate ΔE 5.3	2155 2016
513	Lime Green	→	2241	Green	Close ΔE 2.7	2015 2151
515	Moss Green	→	2110	Green	Close ΔE 3.3	2242 2247
405	Blue	→	2067	Solar Blue	Near identical ΔE 0.8	2199 2071
406	Ultramarine	→	2069	Fire Blue	Very close ΔE 1.7	2070 2195
017	Light Blue	→	2090	Blue Frost	Close ΔE 3.7	2226 2061
019	Sky Blue	→	2232	Medium Blue	Approximate ΔE 7.4	2095 2066
420	Electric Blue	→	2067	Solar Blue	Very close ΔE 2.1	2071 2199
415	Peacock Blue	→	2071	Lake Blue	Close ΔE 3.7	2199 2067
007	Prussian Blue	→	2088	Royal	Very close ΔE 1.7	2196 2086
070	Corn Flower	→	2066	Dolphin Blue	Approximate ΔE 5.5	2192 2193
810	Light Lilac	→	2078	Light Pink	Approximate ΔE 6.0	2009 2011
612	Lilac	→	2082	Laurie Lilac	Approximate ΔE 6.5	2081 2080
613	Violet	→	2084	Dark Purple	Close ΔE 3.8	2083 2086
614	Purple	→	2084	Dark Purple	Close ΔE 4.4	2086 2083
804	Lavender	→	2202	Pastel Lilac	Close ΔE 3.0	2064 2205
607	Wistaria Violet	→	2192	Soldier Blue	Close ΔE 4.0	2193 2194
704	Pewter	→	2150	Dark Grey	Poor match ΔE 13.6	2075 2220
707	Dark Gray	→	2150	Dark Grey	Close ΔE 4.4	2306 2222
005	Silver	→	2139	Traditional Gray	Close ΔE 3.0	2292 2145
817	Gray	→	2296	Gull	Close ΔE 4.0	2140 2295

Match quality is the CIEDE2000 color difference (ΔE00) worked out from screen RGB values. Sheen (rayon against polyester), thread weight and dye lot also change how a substitute looks, so check a real thread card before ordering.

About Brother Embroidery

Brother Embroidery thread is the polyester range sold for Brother home embroidery machines; built-in designs on Brother and Baby Lock machines use these numbers.

About Marathon Polyester

Marathon Polyester is a 40 wt trilobal polyester machine embroidery thread popular with home and small-shop embroiderers for its price and wide shade range.

More Brother conversion charts

All Brother charts →

Brother→Isacord Brother→Madeira Polyneon Brother→Madeira Rayon Brother→Sulky Rayon Brother→Robison-Anton Rayon Brother→Robison-Anton Polyester Brother→Gunold Poly Brother→Floriani Brother→Sulky Poly Brother→Marathon Rayon Brother→Mettler Poly Sheen Brother→Hemingworth Brother→Glide Brother→Coats Sylko Brother→Janome Brother→DMC Brother→Anchor

Frequently asked questions

Is there a Brother to Marathon Polyester conversion chart?

Yes. This page lists the closest Marathon Polyester color for all 61 Brother Embroidery colors, worked out with the CIEDE2000 color-difference formula from each brand's published color values.

How many Brother colors have a close match in Marathon Polyester?

10 of the 61 colors (16%) rate Very close or better, and 70% rate Close or better. The other 18 only have approximate substitutes.

Can I convert Marathon Polyester back to Brother?

Yes, use the reverse chart, Marathon Polyester to Brother. The two palettes are different, so the reverse match is not always the same color you started from.