3859 — Rosewood light
Reds family#B26D5C
Looking up DMC 3859? It's Rosewood light, a medium red shade (#B26D5C / RGB 178, 109, 92). Scroll down for Cosmo, Classic Colorworks, and Weeks Dye Works equivalents ranked by visual similarity, plus 8 close DMC alternatives and curated color harmonies.
About DMC 3859
DMC Six-Strand Embroidery Floss (Mouliné Spécial)
- Also sold as
- Clay
- Fiber
- 100% cotton
- Strands
- 6 strands
- Sold as
- 8 m skein
Brand Equivalents for DMC 3859
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 3859 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 3859 (Rosewood light) in any brand.
Similar DMC Colors to 3859
Closest DMC threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with DMC 3859
It stands out clearly on both white and dark fabric, so it is an easy, versatile choice for any ground.
Because DMC 407 (Clay Brown (3773)) is so near (ΔE 1.79), the pair makes a natural two-step gradient — handy for shading skin, petals, or skies without a hard seam.
DMC 3859 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 Rosewood light turns up.
DMC 3859 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 3859.
Diamond painting: the same number is sold as a drill — Diamond Dotz D3859, Diamond Drills USA DMC3859. A kit legend or drill bag marked 3859 means this color. See the diamond painting DMC chart for every code with drill availability.
Color Harmonies for DMC 3859
DMC threads that pair well with 3859, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Reds Family
DMC3859 in context with nearby shades from the reds color family.
About DMC 3859
DMC 3859 is the floss known as Rosewood light: a moderately saturated, medium member of the reds family with red-orange tones. The shade reads as rich and warm — a go-to choice for holiday designs and bold accents. It also turns up in patterns built around berries and valentines.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does DMC 3859 look like?
DMC 3859 (Rosewood light) is a medium shade in the reds family with hex #B26D5C and RGB 178, 109, 92. Stitchers reach for it in projects featuring ladybug designs and barn scenes.
Which Anchor thread matches DMC 3859?
The closest Anchor match for DMC 3859 (Rosewood light) is Anchor 1007 (Flesh Very Dark) with a 90% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include Anchor 379 (Dusty Flesh Dark, 73%) and Anchor 883 (Antique Mahogany, 68%).
What DMC colors are similar to 3859?
The closest DMC threads to 3859 are 407 Clay Brown (3773) (ΔE 1.79), 3778 Terra Cotta light (ΔE 3.69), and 3064 Desert Sand (ΔE 3.81). These are useful substitutes when 3859 is unavailable or for building gradients.
When should I use DMC 3859?
Reach for DMC 3859 (Rosewood light) when your project calls for ladybug designs, barn scenes, tomato patterns, roses. Its medium character carries both small accents and wider palette work; the harmony picks on this page show natural companions to 3859.
What fabric color works best with DMC 3859 (Rosewood light)?
It stands out clearly on both white and dark fabric, so it is an easy, versatile choice for any ground. For reference, 3859 has a contrast ratio of about 4:1 on white fabric and 5.2:1 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 3859?
No. DMC 3859 (Rosewood 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 3859?
Diamond Dotz D3859 and Diamond Drills USA DMC3859 carry the same number. Diamond painting adopted DMC's numbering, so a kit legend or drill bag marked 3859 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 3859?
Outside the main floss brands, the nearest shades we hold are Planet Earth 027 muted clay (90%), Vineyard Merino 1022 Burnt Ginger (89%), Kreinik 027 Orange (89%). Percentages are perceptual color distance between the two swatches; anything above about 93% is hard to tell apart on fabric.