3802 — Antique Mauve very dark
Reds family#602C36
Below: DMC 3802 (Antique Mauve very dark), a medium-dark, moderately saturated red shade with hex #602C36 and RGB 96, 44, 54. Find its closest J&P Coates, Sullivans, and Cosmo matches ranked by visual similarity, plus 8 similar DMC shades and a full set of color harmony picks.
About DMC 3802
DMC Six-Strand Embroidery Floss (Mouliné Spécial)
- Also sold as
- Aubergine
- Fiber
- 100% cotton
- Strands
- 6 strands
- Sold as
- 8 m skein
Brand Equivalents for DMC 3802
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 3802 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 3802 (Antique Mauve very dark) in any brand.
Similar DMC Colors to 3802
Closest DMC threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with DMC 3802
It pops on white and light fabric but nearly disappears on black, so pair it with a light or neutral ground.
Its nearest neighbor, DMC 902 (Garnet very dark), is barely a step away (ΔE 3.16). Tweed the two together for subtle shading, or substitute freely when one is out of stock.
DMC 3802 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 very dark turns up.
DMC 3802 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 3802.
Diamond painting: the same number is sold as a drill — Diamond Dotz D3802, Diamond Drills USA DMC3802. A kit legend or drill bag marked 3802 means this color. See the diamond painting DMC chart for every code with drill availability.
Color Harmonies for DMC 3802
DMC threads that pair well with 3802, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Reds Family
DMC3802 in context with nearby shades from the reds color family.
About DMC 3802
A medium-dark, moderately saturated entry in the reds family, DMC 3802 carries the name Antique Mauve very dark with warm crimson tones. The steady and deep character of this shade lends itself well to barn scenes and tomato patterns. Stitchers frequently choose it for roses and hearts in their projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
What color is DMC 3802?
DMC 3802 is called Antique Mauve very dark. It's a medium-dark red shade (hex #602C36, RGB 96, 44, 54) in the reds family, commonly used for valentines, poppies, and similar motifs.
What's the closest Anchor match for DMC 3802?
The closest Anchor match for DMC 3802 (Antique Mauve very dark) is Anchor 873 (Antique Violet Dark) with a 71% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include Anchor 70 (Dusty Plum Very Dark, 68%) and Anchor 72 (Dusty Plum Ultra Very Dark, 65%).
What's a good substitute for DMC 3802?
The closest DMC threads to 3802 are 902 Garnet very dark (ΔE 3.16), 315 Antique Mauve dark (ΔE 4.14), and 814 Garnet dark (ΔE 5.97). These are useful substitutes when 3802 is unavailable or for building gradients.
What projects use DMC 3802?
Cross-stitchers pull DMC 3802 (Antique Mauve 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.
What fabric color works best with DMC 3802 (Antique Mauve 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, 3802 has a contrast ratio of about 11:1 on white fabric and 1.9:1 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 3802?
No. DMC 3802 (Antique Mauve 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 3802?
Diamond Dotz D3802 and Diamond Drills USA DMC3802 carry the same number. Diamond painting adopted DMC's numbering, so a kit legend or drill bag marked 3802 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 3802?
Outside the main floss brands, the nearest shades we hold are Rainbow Gallery S825 Dark Antique Mauve (94%), Waverly Wool 2021 Waverly Wool (93%), Hama H118 Maroon Red (93%). Percentages are perceptual color distance between the two swatches; anything above about 93% is hard to tell apart on fabric.