3021 — Brown Grey very dark
Browns family#46382E
DMC 3021 — Brown Grey very dark — has hex #46382E and RGB 70, 56, 46. This dark, muted brown thread sits alongside its closest Classic Colorworks, Weeks Dye Works, and Gentle Art Sampler matches below, with 8 similar DMC shades and a panel of color harmonies for palette planning.
About DMC 3021
DMC Six-Strand Embroidery Floss (Mouliné Spécial)
- Also sold as
- Ink
- Fiber
- 100% cotton
- Strands
- 6 strands
- Sold as
- 8 m skein
Brand Equivalents for DMC 3021
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 3021 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 3021 (Brown Grey very dark) in any brand.
Similar DMC Colors to 3021
Closest DMC threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with DMC 3021
It pops on white and light fabric but nearly disappears on black, so pair it with a light or neutral ground.
DMC 3021 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 Brown Grey very dark turns up.
DMC 3021 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 3021.
Diamond painting: the same number is sold as a drill — Diamond Dotz D3021, Diamond Drills USA DMC3021. A kit legend or drill bag marked 3021 means this color. See the diamond painting DMC chart for every code with drill availability.
Color Harmonies for DMC 3021
DMC threads that pair well with 3021, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Browns Family
DMC3021 in context with nearby shades from the browns color family.
About DMC 3021
Known as Brown Grey very dark, DMC 3021 is a dark, muted shade sitting in the browns family with warm chocolate tones. It has a dramatic and quiet feel that suits warm outlines and wooden textures particularly well. Designers often pair this shade with coffee themes or rustic designs for balanced palettes.
Frequently Asked Questions
DMC 3021 — what color is it?
The color of DMC 3021 is Brown Grey very dark — a dark brown thread (hex #46382E, RGB 70, 56, 46). It shows up most in bark patterns and gingerbread themes.
What is the Anchor equivalent of DMC 3021?
The closest Anchor match for DMC 3021 (Brown Grey very dark) is Anchor 905 (Brown Grey Dark) with a 85% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include Anchor 273 (Beaver Grey Very Dark, 74%) and Anchor 904 (Brown Grey Medium, 65%).
Which DMC threads are close to 3021?
The closest DMC threads to 3021 are 3781 Mocha Brown dark (ΔE 3.44), 3031 Mocha Brown very dark (ΔE 4.5), and 838 Beige Brown very dark (ΔE 4.95). These are useful substitutes when 3021 is unavailable or for building gradients.
What is DMC 3021 good for?
DMC 3021 (Brown Grey very dark) is commonly used in cross-stitch projects featuring bark patterns, gingerbread themes, tree trunks, earth tones. 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 3021.
What fabric color works best with DMC 3021 (Brown Grey very dark)?
It pops on white and light fabric but nearly disappears on black, so pair it with a light or neutral ground. For reference, 3021 has a contrast ratio of about 11.3:1 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 3021?
No. DMC 3021 (Brown Grey very dark) 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.
What is the diamond painting drill code for DMC 3021?
Diamond Dotz D3021 and Diamond Drills USA DMC3021 carry the same number. Diamond painting adopted DMC's numbering, so a kit legend or drill bag marked 3021 is this color regardless of drill brand — though each manufacturer dyes to the reference in its own batches, so avoid mixing brands inside one large block.
Which other thread brands come closest to DMC 3021?
Outside the main floss brands, the nearest shades we hold are Mill Hill Beads 00221 (97%), Artkal J JG17 (94%), Artkal M MG17 Deep Brown Gray (94%). Percentages are perceptual color distance between the two swatches; anything above about 93% is hard to tell apart on fabric.