DMC Mouliné Spécial

221 — Shell Pink very dark

Reds family

DMC 221 (Shell Pink very dark) is a medium-dark, vivid red shade with hex code #6D2329 and RGB values 109, 35, 41. Below you'll find the closest Valdani, Crescent Colours, and Anchor equivalents — ranked by visual color similarity — plus 8 similar DMC shades and color harmony pairings.

Hex
#6D2329
RGB
109, 35, 41
HSL
355°, 51%, 28%
Lab
25.6, 33.3, 14.1
Lightness
28%
Dark
Saturation
51%
Rich
Hue
355°
Family
Reds

Brand Equivalents for DMC 221

Top 5 closest matches in each brand, ranked by visual color similarity. How matching works

DMC 221 Shell Pink very dark

Madeira

Garnet Dark 0513 86% Good
Antique Plum Very Dark 2607 83% Good
Terracotta 0401 82% Good
Garnet Very Dark 0514 81% Good
Garnet Medium 0512 78% Approx

J&P Coates

Fudge Medium 5381 45% Fair
Rose Wine Very Dark 3083 44% Fair
Rose Wine Very Dark 3243 44% Fair
Fudge Dark 5382 40% Fair
Raspberry Medium Dark 3089 37% Fair

Sullivans

Rosewood Medium 45456 87% Good
Desert Sand Ultra Very Dark 45147 84% Good
Mauve Dark 45355 77% Approx
Antique Mauve Dark 45056 76% Approx
Plum Dark 45262 75% Approx

Cosmo

Cosmo 4300 4300 92% Good
Cosmo 655 655 90% Good
Cosmo 246 246 85% Good
Cosmo 245 245 85% Good
Cosmo 437 437 83% Good

Classic Colorworks

Licorice Red Licorice Red 89% Good
Holly Berry Holly Berry 86% Good
Ruby Slippers Ruby Slippers 78% Approx
Wild Berries Wild Berries 78% Approx
Ribbon Red Ribbon Red 75% Approx

Weeks Dye Works

Merlot 1334 90% Good
Garnet 2264 81% Good
Bordeaux 1339 79% Approx
Cayenne 2259 77% Approx
Lancaster Red 1333 77% Approx

Gentle Art Sampler

Acorn 0111 57% Fair
Brown Bear 1191 51% Fair
Loganberry 0892 28% Fair
Currant 0312 20% Fair
Witching Hour 0391 18% Fair

Valdani

Shell Pink very dark O78 100% Excellent
Terra Cotta very dark O507 75% Approx
Rosewood dark M90 73% Approx
Garnet dark O503 70% Approx
Garnet 775 70% Approx

Crescent Colours

Bing Cherry 151 85% Good
Cupid 012 77% Approx
Razzleberry 161 73% Approx
Bandana 094 70% Approx
Apple Fritter 091 64% Fair

Similar DMC Colors to 221

Closest DMC threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.

Color Harmonies for DMC 221

DMC threads that pair well with 221, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.

Complementary
Opposite on the color wheel — maximum contrast
Analogous
Adjacent hues — smooth, natural transitions
Triadic
Evenly spaced at 120° — vibrant and balanced
Monochromatic
Same hue, different lightness — great for shading

Reds Family

DMC 221 in context with nearby shades from the reds color family.

About DMC 221

A medium-dark, vivid entry in the reds family, DMC 221 carries the name Shell Pink very dark with warm crimson tones. Its strong and rich presence shines in barn scenes and tomato patterns alike. Pull this thread for roses or hearts when you need a dependable shade.

Frequently Asked Questions

What color is DMC 221?

DMC 221 is called Shell Pink very dark. It's a medium-dark red shade (hex #6D2329, RGB 109, 35, 41) in the reds family, commonly used for valentines, poppies, and similar motifs.

What's the closest Anchor match for DMC 221?

The closest Anchor match for DMC 221 (Shell Pink very dark) is Anchor 45 (Garnet Very Dark) with a 86% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include Anchor 896 (Shell Pink, 79%) and Anchor 972 (Dusty Violet Very Dark, 79%).

What's a good substitute for DMC 221?

The closest DMC threads to 221 are 815 Garnet medium (ΔE 3.76), 3777 Terra Cotta very dark (ΔE 4.93), and 777 Raspberry very dark (ΔE 5.12). These are useful substitutes when 221 is unavailable or for building gradients.

What projects use DMC 221?

Cross-stitchers pull DMC 221 (Shell Pink very dark) for charts featuring valentines, poppies, cardinal birds, apple motifs. The medium-dark tone reads cleanly on its own and slots into multi-color palettes — see the color harmonies below for pairing ideas.