09 — Very Dark Cocoa
Reds family#483837
Below: DMC 09 (Very Dark Cocoa), a dark, subdued red shade with hex #483837 and RGB 72, 56, 55. Find its closest J&P Coates, Sullivans, and Cosmo matches ranked by visual similarity, plus 8 similar DMC shades and a full set of color harmony picks.
About DMC 09
DMC Six-Strand Embroidery Floss (Mouliné Spécial)
- Also sold as
- Pine Marten
- Fiber
- 100% cotton
- Strands
- 6 strands
- Sold as
- 8 m skein
Brand Equivalents for DMC 09
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 09 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 09 (Very Dark Cocoa) in any brand.
Similar DMC Colors to 09
Closest DMC threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with DMC 09
It pops on white and light fabric but nearly disappears on black, so pair it with a light or neutral ground.
DMC 09 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 Very Dark Cocoa turns up.
DMC 09 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 09.
Diamond painting: 09 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 09
DMC threads that pair well with 09, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Reds Family
DMC09 in context with nearby shades from the reds color family.
About DMC 09
Meet DMC 09, Very Dark Cocoa — a subdued, dark thread in the reds family with true red tones. The dramatic and quiet character of this shade lends itself well to poppies and cardinal birds. Stitchers frequently choose it for apple motifs and ladybug designs in their projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
DMC 09 — what color is it?
The color of DMC 09 is Very Dark Cocoa — a dark red thread (hex #483837, RGB 72, 56, 55). It shows up most in hearts and holiday designs.
What is the Anchor equivalent of DMC 09?
The closest Anchor match for DMC 09 (Very Dark Cocoa) is Anchor 236 (Pewter Grey Very Dark) with a 71% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include Anchor 401 (Shell Grey Very Dark, 66%) and Anchor 273 (Beaver Grey Very Dark, 64%).
Which DMC threads are close to 09?
The closest DMC threads to 09 are 838 Beige Brown very dark (ΔE 4.56), 779 Cocoa dark (ΔE 5.1), and 839 Beige Brown dark (ΔE 5.5). These are useful substitutes when 09 is unavailable or for building gradients.
What is DMC 09 good for?
DMC 09 (Very Dark Cocoa) is commonly used in cross-stitch projects featuring hearts, holiday designs, bold accents, berries. Its dark tone works well for standalone motifs and as part of larger palettes. This page includes color harmonies and similar shades to pair with 09.
What fabric color works best with DMC 09 (Very Dark Cocoa)?
It pops on white and light fabric but nearly disappears on black, so pair it with a light or neutral ground. For reference, 09 has a contrast ratio of about 11.1:1 on white fabric and 1.9:1 on black. As a soft warm shade, its warm cast advances toward the viewer — good for focal points, highlights, and cozy, inviting palettes.
Is there a metallic or satin version of DMC 09?
No. DMC 09 (Very Dark Cocoa) 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 09?
Outside the main floss brands, the nearest shades we hold are Mill Hill Beads 42038 (96%), Artkal J JM12 (94%), Artkal M MM12 Deep Brown Gray (94%). Percentages are perceptual color distance between the two swatches; anything above about 93% is hard to tell apart on fabric.