3852 — Straw very dark
Oranges family
Below: DMC 3852 (Straw very dark), a medium, vivid orange shade with hex #C3801B and RGB 195, 128, 27. Find its closest Gentle Art Sampler, Valdani, and Crescent Colours matches ranked by visual similarity, plus 8 similar DMC shades and a full set of color harmony picks.
Brand Equivalents for DMC 3852
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 Colours
Similar DMC Colors to 3852
Closest DMC threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with DMC 3852
It has moderate contrast on both light and dark fabric — usable on either, but test a few stitches on your chosen ground first.
DMC 3852 (Straw very dark) is vivid enough to carry a focal point; use it sparingly for accents so it stays the star rather than competing across the whole piece.
Color Harmonies for DMC 3852
DMC threads that pair well with 3852, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Oranges Family
DMC 3852 in context with nearby shades from the oranges color family.
About DMC 3852
Straw very dark (catalog code DMC 3852) is a medium, vivid shade from the oranges family with golden orange tones. The confident and warm mood of this color makes it a natural fit for citrus motifs and fox designs. Expect to see it used in fall harvest scenes and monarch butterflies across many cross-stitch charts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What color is DMC 3852?
DMC 3852 is called Straw very dark. It's a medium orange shade (hex #C3801B, RGB 195, 128, 27) in the oranges family, commonly used for warm accents, seasonal designs, and similar motifs.
What's the closest Anchor match for DMC 3852?
The closest Anchor match for DMC 3852 (Straw very dark) is Anchor 890 (Old Gold Medium) with a 88% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include Anchor 307 (Topaz Light, 76%) and Anchor 363 (Golden Brown Light, 70%).
What's a good substitute for DMC 3852?
The closest DMC threads to 3852 are 783 Topaz medium (ΔE 3.88), 729 Old Gold medium (ΔE 4.32), and 3820 Straw dark (ΔE 6.9). These are useful substitutes when 3852 is unavailable or for building gradients.
What projects use DMC 3852?
Cross-stitchers pull DMC 3852 (Straw very dark) for charts featuring warm accents, seasonal designs, pumpkins, marigolds. The medium 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 3852 (Straw very 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, 3852 has a contrast ratio of about 3.3:1 on white fabric and 6.4:1 on black. As a warm shade, its warm cast advances toward the viewer — good for focal points, highlights, and cozy, inviting palettes.