3855 — Autumn Gold light
Oranges family#F9C170
DMC 3855 — Autumn Gold light — has hex #F9C170 and RGB 249, 193, 112. This light, highly saturated orange thread sits alongside its closest Anchor, Madeira, and J&P Coates matches below, with 8 similar DMC shades and a panel of color harmonies for palette planning.
About DMC 3855
DMC Six-Strand Embroidery Floss (Mouliné Spécial)
- Also sold as
- Desert Winds
- Fiber
- 100% cotton
- Strands
- 6 strands
- Sold as
- 8 m skein
Brand Equivalents for DMC 3855
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 3855 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 3855 (Autumn Gold light) in any brand.
Similar DMC Colors to 3855
Closest DMC threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with DMC 3855
It reads best on black or dark fabric and can wash out on white, so reach for a dark or mid-tone ground.
DMC 3855 (Autumn Gold light) 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.
DMC 3855 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 Autumn Gold light turns up.
DMC 3855 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 3855.
Diamond painting: the same number is sold as a drill — Diamond Dotz D3855, Diamond Drills USA DMC3855. A kit legend or drill bag marked 3855 means this color. See the diamond painting DMC chart for every code with drill availability.
Color Harmonies for DMC 3855
DMC threads that pair well with 3855, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Oranges Family
DMC3855 in context with nearby shades from the oranges color family.
About DMC 3855
A light, highly saturated entry in the oranges family, DMC 3855 carries the name Autumn Gold light with golden orange tones. Its tone is fresh and easy, making it a popular choice for monarch butterflies and persimmon patterns. It pairs nicely in designs that call for autumn leaves or sunsets.
Frequently Asked Questions
What color is DMC 3855?
DMC 3855 is called Autumn Gold light. It's a light orange shade (hex #F9C170, RGB 249, 193, 112) in the oranges family, commonly used for marigolds, fall wreaths, and similar motifs.
What's the closest Anchor match for DMC 3855?
The closest Anchor match for DMC 3855 (Autumn Gold light) is Anchor 311 (Tangerine Very Light) with a 91% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include Anchor 302 (Burnt Orange Light, 79%) and Anchor 891 (Old Gold Light, 76%).
What's a good substitute for DMC 3855?
The closest DMC threads to 3855 are 676 Old Gold light (ΔE 3.82), 725 Topaz (ΔE 5.64), and 3822 Straw light (ΔE 6.24). These are useful substitutes when 3855 is unavailable or for building gradients.
What projects use DMC 3855?
Cross-stitchers pull DMC 3855 (Autumn Gold light) for charts featuring marigolds, fall wreaths, citrus motifs, fox designs. The light 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 3855 (Autumn Gold light)?
It reads best on black or dark fabric and can wash out on white, so reach for a dark or mid-tone ground. For reference, 3855 has a contrast ratio of about 1.6:1 on white fabric and 12.9:1 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 3855?
No. DMC 3855 (Autumn Gold light) 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 3855?
Diamond Dotz D3855 and Diamond Drills USA DMC3855 carry the same number. Diamond painting adopted DMC's numbering, so a kit legend or drill bag marked 3855 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 3855?
Outside the main floss brands, the nearest shades we hold are Eterna Silk 460 Tangerine Very Light (93%), Artkal C C72 Pastel Orange (93%), Artkal A A72 Pastel Orange (93%). Percentages are perceptual color distance between the two swatches; anything above about 93% is hard to tell apart on fabric.