03 — Medium Tin
Grays family#908F90
Need details on DMC 03? This medium-light, subdued gray shade (Medium Tin) is hex #908F90, RGB 144, 143, 144. Cross-brand equivalents in Weeks Dye Works, Gentle Art Sampler, and Valdani are listed below — ranked by perceptual similarity — alongside 8 nearby DMC shades and color-theory harmony pairings.
About DMC 03
DMC Six-Strand Embroidery Floss (Mouliné Spécial)
- Also sold as
- Dust
- Fiber
- 100% cotton
- Strands
- 6 strands
- Sold as
- 8 m skein
Brand Equivalents for DMC 03
The five closest matches in each brand, ranked by CIEDE2000 perceptual color difference.
Anchor
Madeira
J&P Coates
Sullivans
Classic Colorworks
Weeks Dye Works
Gentle Art Sampler
Valdani
Crescent Colors
Closest match to DMC 03 in 67 more brands
The single nearest shade in every other palette we hold, from needlepoint silks and wools to fuse beads and yarn. Match quality is perceptual color distance: 93% and up is hard to tell apart, under 75% is a visible shift.
More stranded cotton
Hand-dyed & overdyed
Silk
Wool for needlepoint
Metallic, rayon & specialty
Other threads & beads
Fuse beads
Yarn for crochet & knitting
Need the runners-up, or a whole pattern converted? The thread conversion chart ranks every alternative for DMC 03 (Medium Tin) in any brand.
Similar DMC Colors to 03
Closest DMC threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with DMC 03
It has moderate contrast on both light and dark fabric — usable on either, but test a few stitches on your chosen ground first.
DMC 03 in other DMC lines
DMC reuses base numbers across its specialty lines, so the same shade can exist as a satin, a metallic, or a sparkle floss under a prefixed code. Here is where Medium Tin turns up.
DMC 03 is a Mouliné Spécial-only number: there is no Satin, Light Effects, or Étoile version of this shade. For a sheen or sparkle in the same tone, blend one strand of the nearest metallic with two strands of DMC 03.
Diamond painting: 03 is not in the standard drill set, so kits rarely call for it. Loose-drill shops that pour to DMC numbers are the usual source if a chart does.
Color Harmonies for DMC 03
DMC threads that pair well with 03, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Grays Family
DMC03 in context with nearby shades from the grays color family.
About DMC 03
Meet DMC 03, Medium Tin — a subdued, medium-light thread in the grays family. Stitchers describe its character as restrained and versatile, perfect for shading and outlines. It blends comfortably into projects centered on urban scenes and neutral backgrounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
DMC 03 — what color is it?
The color of DMC 03 is Medium Tin — a medium-light gray thread (hex #908F90, RGB 144, 143, 144). It shows up most in industrial designs and wolf patterns.
What is the Anchor equivalent of DMC 03?
The closest Anchor match for DMC 03 (Medium Tin) is Anchor 235 (Pewter Grey) with a 88% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include Anchor 1040 (Beaver Grey Dark, 65%) and Anchor 399 (Steel Grey Light, 64%).
Which DMC threads are close to 03?
The closest DMC threads to 03 are 318 Steel Grey light (ΔE 7.69), 648 Beaver Grey light (ΔE 7.94), and 452 Shell Grey medium (ΔE 8.54). These are useful substitutes when 03 is unavailable or for building gradients.
What is DMC 03 good for?
DMC 03 (Medium Tin) is commonly used in cross-stitch projects featuring industrial designs, wolf patterns, storm cloud accents, slate textures. Its medium-light tone works well for standalone motifs and as part of larger palettes. This page includes color harmonies and similar shades to pair with 03.
What fabric color works best with DMC 03 (Medium Tin)?
It has moderate contrast on both light and dark fabric — usable on either, but test a few stitches on your chosen ground first. For reference, 03 has a contrast ratio of about 3.2:1 on white fabric and 6.5:1 on black. As a neutral shade, as a near-neutral, it plays quietly with almost any palette and works well as a background or shading tone.
Is there a metallic or satin version of DMC 03?
No. DMC 03 (Medium Tin) exists only as Mouliné Spécial six-strand cotton — there is no Satin, Light Effects, or Étoile code for it. For a matching shine, blend one strand of the nearest Light Effects color with two strands of the cotton.
Which other thread brands come closest to DMC 03?
Outside the main floss brands, the nearest shades we hold are Dimensions 6080 Steel Grey dark (93%), Kreinik Silk Mori 815 Dark Flint (93%), Appleton 972 Elephant Grey (93%). Percentages are perceptual color distance between the two swatches; anything above about 93% is hard to tell apart on fabric.