18 — Yellow Plum
Yellows family#D9BF4A
Looking up DMC 18? It's Yellow Plum, a medium-light yellow shade (#D9BF4A / RGB 217, 191, 74). Scroll down for Cosmo, Classic Colorworks, and Weeks Dye Works equivalents ranked by visual similarity, plus 8 close DMC alternatives and curated color harmonies.
About DMC 18
DMC Six-Strand Embroidery Floss (Mouliné Spécial)
- Also sold as
- Corn
- Fiber
- 100% cotton
- Strands
- 6 strands
- Sold as
- 8 m skein
Brand Equivalents for DMC 18
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 18 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 18 (Yellow Plum) in any brand.
Similar DMC Colors to 18
Closest DMC threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with DMC 18
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 17 (Light Yellow Plum) is so near (ΔE 2.97), the pair makes a natural two-step gradient — handy for shading skin, petals, or skies without a hard seam.
DMC 18 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 Yellow Plum turns up.
DMC 18 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 18.
Diamond painting: 18 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 18
DMC threads that pair well with 18, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Yellows Family
DMC18 in context with nearby shades from the yellows color family.
About DMC 18
DMC 18 is the floss known as Yellow Plum: a vivid, medium-light member of the yellows family with warm gold tones. The shade reads as balanced and lively — a go-to choice for warm backgrounds and golden accents. It also turns up in patterns built around stars and honey themes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does DMC 18 look like?
DMC 18 (Yellow Plum) is a medium-light shade in the yellows family with hex #D9BF4A and RGB 217, 191, 74. Stitchers reach for it in projects featuring rubber duck designs and bumblebee patterns.
Which Anchor thread matches DMC 18?
The closest Anchor match for DMC 18 (Yellow Plum) is Anchor 279 (Lime Green) with a 90% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include Anchor 290 (Lemon Dark, 70%) and Anchor 278 (Lime Green Light, 68%).
What DMC colors are similar to 18?
The closest DMC threads to 18 are 17 Light Yellow Plum (ΔE 2.97), 12 Tender Green (ΔE 5.32), and 3822 Straw light (ΔE 5.67). These are useful substitutes when 18 is unavailable or for building gradients.
When should I use DMC 18?
Reach for DMC 18 (Yellow Plum) when your project calls for rubber duck designs, bumblebee patterns, canary themes, sunflowers. Its medium-light character carries both small accents and wider palette work; the harmony picks on this page show natural companions to 18.
What fabric color works best with DMC 18 (Yellow Plum)?
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, 18 has a contrast ratio of about 1.8:1 on white fabric and 11.5:1 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 18?
No. DMC 18 (Yellow Plum) 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 18?
Outside the main floss brands, the nearest shades we hold are Gamma 0514 лимонный (94%), Paternayan 1712 Mustard (93%), Coats Puppets 7306 Straw yellow (93%). Percentages are perceptual color distance between the two swatches; anything above about 93% is hard to tell apart on fabric.