316 — Antique Mauve medium
Pinks family#AF6A7F
Looking up DMC 316? It's Antique Mauve medium, a medium-light pink shade (#AF6A7F / RGB 175, 106, 127). Scroll down for Crescent Colors, Anchor, and Madeira equivalents ranked by visual similarity, plus 8 close DMC alternatives and curated color harmonies.
About DMC 316
DMC Six-Strand Embroidery Floss (Mouliné Spécial)
- Also sold as
- Metallic Heather
- Fiber
- 100% cotton
- Strands
- 6 strands
- Sold as
- 8 m skein
Brand Equivalents for DMC 316
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 316 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 316 (Antique Mauve medium) in any brand.
Similar DMC Colors to 316
Closest DMC threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with DMC 316
It stands out clearly on both white and dark fabric, so it is an easy, versatile choice for any ground.
DMC 316 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 Antique Mauve medium turns up.
Diamond painting: the same number is sold as a drill — Diamond Dotz D316, Diamond Drills USA DMC316. A kit legend or drill bag marked 316 means this color. See the diamond painting DMC chart for every code with drill availability.
Color Harmonies for DMC 316
DMC threads that pair well with 316, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Pinks Family
DMC316 in context with nearby shades from the pinks color family.
About DMC 316
Known as Antique Mauve medium, DMC 316 is a medium-light, moderately saturated shade sitting in the pinks family with rose pink tones. Expect a easygoing and clear look that suits blush accents, cherry blossoms, and similar motifs. Cross stitch enthusiasts often reach for this thread when stitching ballet themes or baby projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
DMC 316 — what color is it?
The color of DMC 316 is Antique Mauve medium — a medium-light pink thread (hex #AF6A7F, RGB 175, 106, 127). It shows up most in cosmetics-themed designs and rose buds.
What is the Anchor equivalent of DMC 316?
The closest Anchor match for DMC 316 (Antique Mauve medium) is Anchor 1018 (Antique Mauve Light) with a 69% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include Anchor 970 (Dusty Violet Dark, 64%) and Anchor 871 (Antique Violet Medium, 62%).
Which DMC threads are close to 316?
The closest DMC threads to 316 are 3688 Mauve medium (ΔE 6.87), 3836 Grape light (ΔE 6.89), and 223 Shell Pink light (ΔE 7.51). These are useful substitutes when 316 is unavailable or for building gradients.
What is DMC 316 good for?
DMC 316 (Antique Mauve medium) is commonly used in cross-stitch projects featuring cosmetics-themed designs, rose buds, florals, skin tones. Its medium-light tone works well for standalone motifs and as part of larger palettes. This page includes color harmonies and similar shades to pair with 316.
What fabric color works best with DMC 316 (Antique Mauve medium)?
It stands out clearly on both white and dark fabric, so it is an easy, versatile choice for any ground. For reference, 316 has a contrast ratio of about 4:1 on white fabric and 5.2:1 on black. As a warm shade, its warm cast advances toward the viewer — good for focal points, highlights, and cozy, inviting palettes.
Does DMC 316 come in a satin, metallic, or Étoile version?
Yes. The same number is made as DMC Light Effects E316. The base shade is matched across the lines, but the fiber changes the look: Satin is a high-sheen rayon, Light Effects is a metallic polyester most people blend one strand at a time, and Étoile is cotton with a sparkle filament that stitches like ordinary floss.
What is the diamond painting drill code for DMC 316?
Diamond Dotz D316 and Diamond Drills USA DMC316 carry the same number. Diamond painting adopted DMC's numbering, so a kit legend or drill bag marked 316 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 316?
Outside the main floss brands, the nearest shades we hold are Vineyard Merino 1003 Hope (98%), Fine d'Aubusson 2452 Fine d'Aubusson (93%), Coats Puppets 7076 Heather lilac (93%). Percentages are perceptual color distance between the two swatches; anything above about 93% is hard to tell apart on fabric.