3830 — Terra Cotta
Reds family
Looking up DMC 3830? It's Terra Cotta, a medium red shade (#9C3A36 / RGB 156, 58, 54). Scroll down for Crescent Colors, Anchor, and Madeira equivalents ranked by visual similarity, plus 8 close DMC alternatives and curated color harmonies.
Brand Equivalents for DMC 3830
Top 5 closest matches in each brand, ranked by visual color similarity.How matching works
Anchor
Madeira
J&P Coates
Sullivans
Classic Colorworks
Weeks Dye Works
Gentle Art Sampler
Valdani
Crescent Colors
Closest match to DMC 3830 in 43 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 colour 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 3830 (Terra Cotta) in any brand.
Similar DMC Colors to 3830
Closest DMC threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with DMC 3830
It has moderate contrast on both light and dark fabric — usable on either, but test a few stitches on your chosen ground first.
DMC 3830 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 Terra Cotta turns up.
DMC 3830 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 3830.
Diamond painting: the same number is sold as a drill — Diamond Dotz D3830, Diamond Drills USA AD3830. A kit legend or drill bag marked 3830 means this colour. See the diamond painting DMC chart for every code with drill availability.
Color Harmonies for DMC 3830
DMC threads that pair well with 3830, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Reds Family
DMC 3830 in context with nearby shades from the reds color family.
About DMC 3830
DMC 3830 (Terra Cotta) is a medium, moderately saturated shade in the reds family with true red tones. Expect a rich and warm look that suits tomato patterns, roses, and similar motifs. Cross stitch enthusiasts often reach for this thread when stitching hearts or holiday designs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does DMC 3830 look like?
DMC 3830 (Terra Cotta) is a medium shade in the reds family with hex #9C3A36 and RGB 156, 58, 54. Stitchers reach for it in projects featuring poppies and cardinal birds.
Which Anchor thread matches DMC 3830?
The closest Anchor match for DMC 3830 (Terra Cotta) is Anchor 1025 (Dusty Rose Dark) with a 71% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include Anchor 1024 (Dusty Rose Medium, 68%) and Anchor 1027 (Shell Pink Medium Dark, 67%).
What DMC colors are similar to 3830?
The closest DMC threads to 3830 are 22 Alizarin (ΔE 4.03), 347 Salmon very dark (ΔE 4.74), and 355 Terra Cotta dark (ΔE 4.95). These are useful substitutes when 3830 is unavailable or for building gradients.
When should I use DMC 3830?
Reach for DMC 3830 (Terra Cotta) when your project calls for poppies, cardinal birds, apple motifs, ladybug designs. Its medium character carries both small accents and wider palette work; the harmony picks on this page show natural companions to 3830.
What fabric color works best with DMC 3830 (Terra Cotta)?
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, 3830 has a contrast ratio of about 6.8:1 on white fabric and 3.1:1 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 3830?
No. DMC 3830 (Terra Cotta) 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 colour with two strands of the cotton.
What is the diamond painting drill code for DMC 3830?
Diamond Dotz D3830 and Diamond Drills USA AD3830 carry the same number. Diamond painting adopted DMC's numbering, so a kit legend or drill bag marked 3830 is this colour 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 3830?
Outside the main floss brands, the nearest shades we hold are Soie d'Alger 4612 Terra Cotta (100%), Riolis 118 (95%), Silk and Ivory 234 Mimosa (93%). Percentages are perceptual colour distance between the two swatches; anything above about 93% is hard to tell apart on fabric.