DMC Mouliné Spécial

400 — Mahogany dark

Reds family

Looking up DMC 400? It's Mahogany dark, a medium-dark red shade (#753321 / RGB 117, 51, 33). Scroll down for Crescent Colours, Anchor, and Madeira equivalents ranked by visual similarity, plus 8 close DMC alternatives and curated color harmonies.

Hex
#753321
RGB
117, 51, 33
HSL
13°, 56%, 29%
Lab
30.1, 27.6, 25.1
Lightness
29%
Dark
Saturation
56%
Rich
Hue
13°
Family
Reds

Brand Equivalents for DMC 400

Top 5 closest matches in each brand, ranked by visual color similarity. How matching works

DMC 400 Mahogany dark

Sullivans

Brown Light 45095 88% Good
Topaz Ultra Very Dark 45198 76% Approx
Golden Brown Dark 45304 74% Approx
Brown Medium 45094 71% Approx
Hazel Nut Brown Very Dark 45242 70% Approx

Crescent Colours

Whatley Woodlands 153 83% Good
Fallen Leaves 067 80% Good
Almost Auburn 156 68% Approx
Brown Sugar 178 60% Fair
Rod and Reel 116 59% Fair

Similar DMC Colors to 400

Closest DMC threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.

DMC 400 Mahogany dark
Red Copper dark DMC 918 Very close ΔE 3.07 Golden Brown dark DMC 975 Very close ΔE 3.32 Mahogany very dark DMC 300 Very close ΔE 4.24 Desert Sand ultra very dark DMC 632 Close ΔE 5.24 Brown medium DMC 433 Noticeable ΔE 5.64 Rosewood medium DMC 3858 Noticeable ΔE 5.75 Terra Cotta dark DMC 355 Noticeable ΔE 6.72 Red Copper DMC 919 Noticeable ΔE 6.74

Working with DMC 400

On white fabric
9.3:1
On dark fabric
2.3:1
Temperature
warm
Closest to
brown

It has moderate contrast on both light and dark fabric — usable on either, but test a few stitches on your chosen ground first.

Blending & gradients

DMC 400 (Mahogany dark) sits a hair from DMC 918 (Red Copper dark) (ΔE 3.07) — close enough to blend a strand of each for a smooth gradient or to swap one for the other in a pinch.

Color Harmonies for DMC 400

DMC threads that pair well with 400, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.

Complementary
Opposite on the color wheel — maximum contrast
400
3809 Turquoise very dark
Analogous
Adjacent hues — smooth, natural transitions
400
829 Golden Olive very dark 3721 Shell Pink dark
Triadic
Evenly spaced at 120° — vibrant and balanced
400
3818 Emerald Green ultra very dark 312 Navy Blue light
Monochromatic
Same hue, different lightness — great for shading
400
3772 Desert Sand very dark 758 Terra Cotta very light 967 Apricot very light

Reds Family

DMC 400 in context with nearby shades from the reds color family.

400 Mahogany dark 400 315 Antique Mauve dark 315 3777 Terra Cotta very dark 3777 632 Desert Sand ultra very dark 632 918 Red Copper dark 918 816 Garnet 816 221 Shell Pink very dark 221 3802 Antique Mauve very dark 3802 779 Cocoa dark 779 300 Mahogany very dark 300 09 Very Dark Cocoa 09

About DMC 400

Known as Mahogany dark, DMC 400 is a medium-dark, vivid shade sitting in the reds family with red-orange tones. Expect a intense and saturated look that suits ladybug designs, barn scenes, and similar motifs. Cross stitch enthusiasts often reach for this thread when stitching tomato patterns or roses.

Frequently Asked Questions

DMC 400 — what color is it?

The color of DMC 400 is Mahogany dark — a medium-dark red thread (hex #753321, RGB 117, 51, 33). It shows up most in berries and valentines.

What is the Anchor equivalent of DMC 400?

The closest Anchor match for DMC 400 (Mahogany dark) is Anchor 1004 (Orange Spice Very Dark) with a 72% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include Anchor 355 (Chocolate Medium Dark, 69%) and Anchor 5975 (Terracotta Dark, 68%).

Which DMC threads are close to 400?

The closest DMC threads to 400 are 918 Red Copper dark (ΔE 3.07), 975 Golden Brown dark (ΔE 3.32), and 300 Mahogany very dark (ΔE 4.24). These are useful substitutes when 400 is unavailable or for building gradients.

What is DMC 400 good for?

DMC 400 (Mahogany dark) is commonly used in cross-stitch projects featuring berries, valentines, poppies, cardinal birds. Its medium-dark tone works well for standalone motifs and as part of larger palettes. This page includes color harmonies and similar shades to pair with 400.

What fabric color works best with DMC 400 (Mahogany 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, 400 has a contrast ratio of about 9.3:1 on white fabric and 2.3:1 on black. As a warm shade, its warm cast advances toward the viewer — good for focal points, highlights, and cozy, inviting palettes.

DMC Color Chart DMC ↔ Anchor Conversion