3781 — Mocha Brown dark
Browns family#503D2E
Need details on DMC 3781? This dark, muted brown shade (Mocha Brown dark) is hex #503D2E, RGB 80, 61, 46. Cross-brand equivalents in Weeks Dye Works, Gentle Art Sampler, and Valdani are listed below — ranked by perceptual similarity — alongside 8 nearby DMC shades and color-theory harmony pairings.
About DMC 3781
DMC Six-Strand Embroidery Floss (Mouliné Spécial)
- Also sold as
- Wrought Iron
- Fiber
- 100% cotton
- Strands
- 6 strands
- Sold as
- 8 m skein
Brand Equivalents for DMC 3781
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 3781 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 3781 (Mocha Brown dark) in any brand.
Similar DMC Colors to 3781
Closest DMC threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with DMC 3781
It has moderate contrast on both light and dark fabric — usable on either, but test a few stitches on your chosen ground first.
DMC 3781 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 Mocha Brown dark turns up.
DMC 3781 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 3781.
Diamond painting: the same number is sold as a drill — Diamond Dotz D3781, Diamond Drills USA DMC3781. A kit legend or drill bag marked 3781 means this color. See the diamond painting DMC chart for every code with drill availability.
Color Harmonies for DMC 3781
DMC threads that pair well with 3781, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Browns Family
DMC3781 in context with nearby shades from the browns color family.
About DMC 3781
Meet DMC 3781, Mocha Brown dark — a muted, dark thread in the browns family with earthy sienna tones. Stitchers describe its character as dramatic and quiet, perfect for tree trunks and earth tones. It blends comfortably into projects centered on animal fur and warm outlines.
Frequently Asked Questions
DMC 3781 — what color is it?
The color of DMC 3781 is Mocha Brown dark — a dark brown thread (hex #503D2E, RGB 80, 61, 46). It shows up most in leather accents and horse designs.
What is the Anchor equivalent of DMC 3781?
The closest Anchor match for DMC 3781 (Mocha Brown dark) is Anchor 905 (Brown Grey Dark) with a 82% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include Anchor 904 (Brown Grey Medium, 78%) and Anchor 273 (Beaver Grey Very Dark, 73%).
Which DMC threads are close to 3781?
The closest DMC threads to 3781 are 3021 Brown Grey very dark (ΔE 3.44), 839 Beige Brown dark (ΔE 4.6), and 3790 Beige Grey ultra dark (ΔE 5.45). These are useful substitutes when 3781 is unavailable or for building gradients.
What is DMC 3781 good for?
DMC 3781 (Mocha Brown dark) is commonly used in cross-stitch projects featuring leather accents, horse designs, cinnamon motifs, bark patterns. 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 3781.
What fabric color works best with DMC 3781 (Mocha Brown dark)?
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, 3781 has a contrast ratio of about 10.3:1 on white fabric and 2:1 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 3781?
No. DMC 3781 (Mocha Brown 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 3781?
Diamond Dotz D3781 and Diamond Drills USA DMC3781 carry the same number. Diamond painting adopted DMC's numbering, so a kit legend or drill bag marked 3781 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 3781?
Outside the main floss brands, the nearest shades we hold are Planet Earth Pepperpot 070 java (90%), Ariadna 1812 (89%), Mill Hill Beads 92023 (88%). Percentages are perceptual color distance between the two swatches; anything above about 93% is hard to tell apart on fabric.