420 — Hazelnut Brown dark
Browns family
DMC 420 — Hazelnut Brown dark — has hex #8E6034 and RGB 142, 96, 52. This medium-dark, moderately saturated brown thread sits alongside its closest Classic Colorworks, Weeks Dye Works, and Gentle Art Sampler matches below, with 8 similar DMC shades and a panel of color harmonies for palette planning.
Brand Equivalents for DMC 420
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 420
Closest DMC threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with DMC 420
It has moderate contrast on both light and dark fabric — usable on either, but test a few stitches on your chosen ground first.
DMC 420 (Hazelnut Brown dark) falls where flesh tones live; portrait and figure charts lean on shades like it, graded against nearby lighter and darker threads for natural shadow.
DMC 420 (Hazelnut Brown dark) sits a hair from DMC 167 (Yellow Beige very dark) (ΔE 1.81) — 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 420
DMC threads that pair well with 420, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Browns Family
DMC 420 in context with nearby shades from the browns color family.
About DMC 420
Known as Hazelnut Brown dark, DMC 420 is a medium-dark, moderately saturated shade sitting in the browns family with earthy sienna tones. It has a rich and grounded feel that suits warm outlines and wooden textures particularly well. Designers often pair this shade with coffee themes or rustic designs for balanced palettes.
Frequently Asked Questions
DMC 420 — what color is it?
The color of DMC 420 is Hazelnut Brown dark — a medium-dark brown thread (hex #8E6034, RGB 142, 96, 52). It shows up most in bark patterns and gingerbread themes.
What is the Anchor equivalent of DMC 420?
The closest Anchor match for DMC 420 (Hazelnut Brown dark) is Anchor 373 (Tan Medium Dark) with a 88% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include Anchor 369 (Coffee Medium Light, 82%) and Anchor 888 (Hazelnut Brown Light, 74%).
Which DMC threads are close to 420?
The closest DMC threads to 420 are 167 Yellow Beige very dark (ΔE 1.81), 435 Brown very light (ΔE 5.88), and 781 Topaz Very Dark (ΔE 5.92). These are useful substitutes when 420 is unavailable or for building gradients.
What is DMC 420 good for?
DMC 420 (Hazelnut Brown dark) is commonly used in cross-stitch projects featuring bark patterns, gingerbread themes, tree trunks, earth tones. 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 420.
What fabric color works best with DMC 420 (Hazelnut Brown 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, 420 has a contrast ratio of about 5.4:1 on white fabric and 3.9:1 on black. As a warm shade, its warm cast advances toward the viewer — good for focal points, highlights, and cozy, inviting palettes.