Gütermann retail thread sold in the US is labeled with a different set of color numbers than the wholesale versions sold on tubes, such as those available from Wawak. Gütermann Mara 100 All Purpose Thread – Tex 30 sold at Wawak is the same thread as the all-purpose thread sold in retail, but you get ten times as much as is on the small spools. So it’s a good deal to buy the larger spools of colors you use a lot.
If you ask, Wawak will email you a conversion chart so you can compare the 262 retail color numbers to the wholesale numbers. It only includes the numbers, not the retail color names, and is sorted by the retail numbers. It also looks like it has been photocopied a few times and is hard to read.
I have the wholesale 700 color thread chart, and I wanted to be able to easily convert the color numbers both ways, so I found a list of color names, added them to the list, and reformatted it. I included one page that is sorted by the retail numbers and one that is sorted by the wholesale numbers.
Here is a link to download the pdf of the new and improved Gütermann Thread Color Number Conversion Charts. [I updated the charts on 1/4/2021 to correct some color names based on this chart from Blackbirdfabrics which I checked against other online sources. Note that online retailers may use different names for some colors. The partial image below is from my original chart, not the corrected one, FYI.]
When I compared the retail thread spools that I have to the thread chart, it looks like not all of the colors are exact matches, and thread color varies a bit between dye lots, so keep that in mind, but it should get you close to the right color.
Let me know if you find any errors in the chart.
GrowYourOwnClothes Etsy Shop
Grow Your Own Clothes 
Wow, this is a great chart. I compared price with buying a small spool at Joann with Wawaks and will never buy at Joann again. For the small price difference I would be better off with the larger spool as I will probably use the color again even if I only needa little this time.
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Wow, this saved me sooo much effort, time and headache! Thank you very much for sharing this information! (I also have the Mara 700 color chart from Wawak and was not expecting the switch from wholesale to retail.) You are an angel!
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This is really helpful. Thank you for sharing!
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You are a star! Thank you. Europe uses the wholesale numbers too and I have a mix of EU and US thread so this is incredibly helpful!
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This is a great improvement!
There is a Gutermann retail thread 642 Ocean Green. It is not included on the original chart or your upgrade. I’d love to know its wholesale number.
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Luckily I have a spool of 642 Ocean Green. I would say that color 18 is the closest match from the wholesale thread chart.
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I have the wholesale/Mara color chart too. 18 belongs to 784 – Spruce, which I own too. I was thinking maybe 869..what do you think? I know, they’re SO close. I like things “just so”, what can I say?
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869 looks like it is a perfect match, but Mara 100 (which is the same weight as retail all-purpose thread) is not available in that color. You can get the Mara 30 or Mara 70 topstitch thread in color 869.
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Ooh, good eye! I believe you may be as much of a thread aficionado as I am…this chart is brilliant isn’t it? I love being able to hold a piece of fabric up to one of the actual thread samples and order it from Wawak for a perfect match!
I recently purchased a Janome HD9 which handles the heavier Mara 30 (tex 100) in the top thread and the bobbin! I like the Mara 70 (tex 40) too, a nice top stitching thread that works in most machines. I also recently learned that the retail Gütermann Extra Strong is tex 75. It only comes in 45 colors and isn’t part of the Mara line but the colors numbers are the same. Thanks!
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Hi Leila, I need help, I have two spools of Gutermann both with retail # 512 but totally different colors one is definitely Putty but the other is more of a deep plum, it is recycled polyester. The putty is labeled Germany 21031017 the other says made in Germany. Is there a way I can find out the color of the “plummish” one.
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Putty #512 is a US retail number. #512 plum is a wholesale number, which is also used as retail numbers in most areas outside of the US. I know, it’s stupidly confusing. I have no idea why they use two sets of numbers.
If you look on the second page of my conversion chart (download it from the link in the blog post above), you see #512 wholesale (plum) corresponds to US retail #939.
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How does this color chart work for the serger threads (Toldi-Lock)?
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I only have a couple of different cones of Toldi Lock. They both have four digit color numbers, so I’m guessing the serger thread has a completely different set of color numbers.
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Thanks for the help, (from u.k. – and male)
I do furnishings.
Have partial colour blindness.
Gutermann sequencing seems rather challenging. Labels drop off bobbins.
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Wow, this is so helpful! Do you know if these numbers also apply to their silk thread?
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It looks like the silk thread uses the same color numbers.
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Thank you! I am having a hard time getting colors for Mara 100 and Mara 70. The numbers on the spools are not matching up on some colors. I have found several numbers that are not even listed. I did purchase one of the thread charts from Wawak, but they are currently out of stock on the other one. I truly appreciate that you have color names on your charts.
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I own quite a few Gutermann Mara 100 threads that have numbers in the 4-digit range. How do I fine corresponding current numbers? 3791, 3619, 9637. Thank you.
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I haven’t seen a conversion for those numbers. My only suggestion would be to get a thread sample chart from Wawak (link above in the post). I hesitated to buy one for quite a while because of the cost, but then when I finally got it I wished I’d gotten one earlier, since it has been really useful.
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I love this thread! How do you keep these spool sized from unravelling? I hate chasing those thread tails down when they are in my spool rack.
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I have some of them standing upright on a pegboard I made that sits in a drawer, so while they do unravel, it doesn’t usually get too far out of hand. I have other tubes and cones of thread loose in a drawer, and for those I sewed some stretch lace pieces into tubes (similar idea to using a thread net, but I haven’t found any thread nets small enough to fit on these spools) and put them around each spool of thread to keep them from unwinding. I suppose you could also just tie or sew some narrow elastic into a loop, and wrap it around the spool like a rubber band. Actual rubber bands tend to deteriorate, so you would probably want to stick with elastic, stretch lace, or some scraps of stretchy fabric. I use clear elastic bands to wrap around bobbins I have upholstery thread on, so I can still see the thread color through it.
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Thanks for your work on this – I was looking for more than WAWAK was offering!
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Thank you SO MUCH for this chart!!!! It will save so much time! I am so grateful!
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Hi! I’m looking for a Gutterman (or DMC) chart that converts DMC colors to Gutterman Silk and/or Polyester sewing threads. I do miniature embroidery and find that on 36 count evenweave fabric, the DMC is scrunching the fabric the more rows I apply to a section. I’ve tried my Gutterman threads on the 36 count and it is perfect. Can you point me to where I might find such a chart?
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I would be surprised if their was a chart for something that specific. You would probably have to get sample cards of each if they are available and compare them yourself.
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An addition to your wonderful chart. Mara 100 number 264 is a dark taupe. (Purchased from Wawak in spring of 2022.
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Thanks for sharing this information – it’s just what I was looking for. I couldn’t understand why I wasn’t finding my retail thread color numbers on my new Gutermann Mara thread chart but your article and your spreadsheet answered my questions and allowed me to complete my thread inventory. Thanks for your generosity in sharing your knowledge!
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