3803 — Mauve medium
Pinks family#7B2544
DMC 3803 (Mauve medium) is a medium-dark, vivid pink shade with hex code #7B2544 and RGB values 123, 37, 68. Below you'll find the closest Sullivans, Cosmo, and Classic Colorworks equivalents — ranked by visual color similarity — plus 8 similar DMC shades and color harmony pairings.
About DMC 3803
DMC Six-Strand Embroidery Floss (Mouliné Spécial)
- Also sold as
- Bordeaux
- Fiber
- 100% cotton
- Strands
- 6 strands
- Sold as
- 8 m skein
Brand Equivalents for DMC 3803
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 3803 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 3803 (Mauve medium) in any brand.
Similar DMC Colors to 3803
Closest DMC threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with DMC 3803
It has moderate contrast on both light and dark fabric — usable on either, but test a few stitches on your chosen ground first.
DMC 3803 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 Mauve medium turns up.
DMC 3803 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 3803.
Diamond painting: the same number is sold as a drill — Diamond Dotz D3803, Diamond Drills USA DMC3803. A kit legend or drill bag marked 3803 means this color. See the diamond painting DMC chart for every code with drill availability.
Color Harmonies for DMC 3803
DMC threads that pair well with 3803, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Pinks Family
DMC3803 in context with nearby shades from the pinks color family.
About DMC 3803
DMC 3803 (Mauve medium) is a medium-dark, vivid shade in the pinks family with rose pink tones. This thread brings a deep and vivid presence to projects featuring rose buds or florals. Look for it in charts that feature skin tones or romantic motifs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does DMC 3803 look like?
DMC 3803 (Mauve medium) is a medium-dark shade in the pinks family with hex #7B2544 and RGB 123, 37, 68. Stitchers reach for it in projects featuring baby projects and peony petals.
Which Anchor thread matches DMC 3803?
The closest Anchor match for DMC 3803 (Mauve medium) is Anchor 1029 (Plum Dark) with a 73% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include Anchor 1028 (Dusty Plum Dark, 66%) and Anchor 972 (Dusty Violet Very Dark, 64%).
What DMC colors are similar to 3803?
The closest DMC threads to 3803 are 3685 Mauve dark (ΔE 4.28), 915 Plum dark (ΔE 4.91), and 777 Raspberry very dark (ΔE 6.57). These are useful substitutes when 3803 is unavailable or for building gradients.
When should I use DMC 3803?
Reach for DMC 3803 (Mauve medium) when your project calls for baby projects, peony petals, flamingo designs, tulip blooms. Its medium-dark character carries both small accents and wider palette work; the harmony picks on this page show natural companions to 3803.
What fabric color works best with DMC 3803 (Mauve 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, 3803 has a contrast ratio of about 9.6:1 on white fabric and 2.2:1 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 3803?
No. DMC 3803 (Mauve 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 3803?
Diamond Dotz D3803 and Diamond Drills USA DMC3803 carry the same number. Diamond painting adopted DMC's numbering, so a kit legend or drill bag marked 3803 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 3803?
Outside the main floss brands, the nearest shades we hold are Eterna Silk 2310 Wineberry Dark (97%), PNK Kirov 1112 (95%), Paternayan 1901 American Red (91%). Percentages are perceptual color distance between the two swatches; anything above about 93% is hard to tell apart on fabric.