12 — Tender Green
Yellows family#CFC662
DMC 12 (Tender Green) is a medium-light, vivid yellow shade with hex code #CFC662 and RGB values 207, 198, 98. Below you'll find the closest Valdani, Crescent Colors, and Anchor equivalents — ranked by visual color similarity — plus 8 similar DMC shades and color harmony pairings.
About DMC 12
DMC Six-Strand Embroidery Floss (Mouliné Spécial)
- Also sold as
- Citrus Yellow
- Fiber
- 100% cotton
- Strands
- 6 strands
- Sold as
- 8 m skein
Brand Equivalents for DMC 12
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 12 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 12 (Tender Green) in any brand.
Similar DMC Colors to 12
Closest DMC threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with DMC 12
It reads best on black or dark fabric and can wash out on white, so reach for a dark or mid-tone ground.
Because DMC 165 (Moss Green very light) is so near (ΔE 1.46), the pair makes a natural two-step gradient — handy for shading skin, petals, or skies without a hard seam.
DMC 12 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 Tender Green turns up.
DMC 12 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 12.
Diamond painting: 12 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 12
DMC threads that pair well with 12, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Yellows Family
DMC12 in context with nearby shades from the yellows color family.
About DMC 12
DMC 12 is the floss known as Tender Green: a vivid, medium-light member of the yellows family with sunny yellow tones. Its balanced and lively presence shines in lemon motifs and rubber duck designs alike. Pull this thread for bumblebee patterns or canary themes when you need a dependable shade.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does DMC 12 look like?
DMC 12 (Tender Green) is a medium-light shade in the yellows family with hex #CFC662 and RGB 207, 198, 98. Stitchers reach for it in projects featuring golden accents and stars.
Which Anchor thread matches DMC 12?
The closest Anchor match for DMC 12 (Tender Green) is Anchor 278 (Lime Green Light) with a 84% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include Anchor 279 (Lime Green, 71%) and Anchor 254 (Forest Green Very Light, 68%).
What DMC colors are similar to 12?
The closest DMC threads to 12 are 165 Moss Green very light (ΔE 1.46), 17 Light Yellow Plum (ΔE 2.88), and 472 Avocado Green ultra light (ΔE 4.31). These are useful substitutes when 12 is unavailable or for building gradients.
When should I use DMC 12?
Reach for DMC 12 (Tender Green) when your project calls for golden accents, stars, honey themes, wheat fields. Its medium-light character carries both small accents and wider palette work; the harmony picks on this page show natural companions to 12.
What fabric color works best with DMC 12 (Tender Green)?
It reads best on black or dark fabric and can wash out on white, so reach for a dark or mid-tone ground. For reference, 12 has a contrast ratio of about 1.8:1 on white fabric and 11.9:1 on black. As a 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 12?
No. DMC 12 (Tender Green) 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 12?
Outside the main floss brands, the nearest shades we hold are Planet Earth Pepperpot 073 keylime (100%), Coats Puppets 7279 Light moss green (95%), Artkal S S145 Pale Yellow Moss (93%). Percentages are perceptual color distance between the two swatches; anything above about 93% is hard to tell apart on fabric.