304 — Christmas Red medium
Reds family#9A0029
Looking up DMC 304? It's Christmas Red medium, a medium-dark red shade (#9A0029 / RGB 154, 0, 41). 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 304
DMC Six-Strand Embroidery Floss (Mouliné Spécial)
- Also sold as
- Chinese Lacquer
- Fiber
- 100% cotton
- Strands
- 6 strands
- Sold as
- 8 m skein
Brand Equivalents for DMC 304
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 304 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 304 (Christmas Red medium) in any brand.
Similar DMC Colors to 304
Closest DMC threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with DMC 304
It has moderate contrast on both light and dark fabric — usable on either, but test a few stitches on your chosen ground first.
DMC 304 (Christmas Red medium) is vivid enough to carry a focal point; use it sparingly for accents so it stays the star rather than competing across the whole piece.
DMC 304 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 Christmas Red medium turns up.
DMC 304 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 304.
Diamond painting: the same number is sold as a drill — Diamond Dotz D304, Diamond Drills USA DMC304. A kit legend or drill bag marked 304 means this color. See the diamond painting DMC chart for every code with drill availability.
Color Harmonies for DMC 304
DMC threads that pair well with 304, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Reds Family
DMC304 in context with nearby shades from the reds color family.
About DMC 304
A medium-dark, highly saturated entry in the reds family, DMC 304 carries the name Christmas Red medium. The shade reads as strong and rich — a go-to choice for berries and valentines. It also turns up in patterns built around poppies and cardinal birds.
Frequently Asked Questions
What color is DMC 304?
DMC 304 is called Christmas Red medium. It's a medium-dark red shade (hex #9A0029, RGB 154, 0, 41) in the reds family, commonly used for tomato patterns, roses, and similar motifs.
What's the closest Anchor match for DMC 304?
The closest Anchor match for DMC 304 (Christmas Red medium) is Anchor 43 (Garnet Medium) with a 86% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include Anchor 65 (Cerise Ultra Very Dark, 84%) and Anchor 1005 (Christmas Red Ultra Very Dark, 78%).
What's a good substitute for DMC 304?
The closest DMC threads to 304 are 498 Christmas Red dark (ΔE 3.61), 816 Garnet (ΔE 3.63), and 326 Rose very deep (ΔE 3.93). These are useful substitutes when 304 is unavailable or for building gradients.
What projects use DMC 304?
Cross-stitchers pull DMC 304 (Christmas Red medium) for charts featuring tomato patterns, roses, hearts, holiday designs. The medium-dark tone reads cleanly on its own and slots into multi-color palettes — see the color harmonies below for pairing ideas.
What fabric color works best with DMC 304 (Christmas Red medium)?
It has moderate contrast on both light and dark fabric — usable on either, but test a few stitches on your chosen ground first. For reference, 304 has a contrast ratio of about 8.7:1 on white fabric and 2.4:1 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 304?
No. DMC 304 (Christmas Red medium) 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 304?
Diamond Dotz D304 and Diamond Drills USA DMC304 carry the same number. Diamond painting adopted DMC's numbering, so a kit legend or drill bag marked 304 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 304?
Outside the main floss brands, the nearest shades we hold are Anchor Marlitt 893 Christmas Red (94%), Unitas Ljubica 880 (92%), Eterna Silk 1860 Cherry Red Medium Dark (91%). Percentages are perceptual color distance between the two swatches; anything above about 93% is hard to tell apart on fabric.