520 — Fern Green dark
Greens family
Looking up DMC 520? It's Fern Green dark, a dark green shade (#3A4734 / RGB 58, 71, 52). Scroll down for Cosmo, Classic Colorworks, and Weeks Dye Works equivalents ranked by visual similarity, plus 8 close DMC alternatives and curated color harmonies.
Brand Equivalents for DMC 520
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 520
Closest DMC threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with DMC 520
It has moderate contrast on both light and dark fabric — usable on either, but test a few stitches on your chosen ground first.
DMC 520 (Fern Green dark) sits a hair from DMC 3362 (Pine Green dark) (ΔE 2.98) — 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 520
DMC threads that pair well with 520, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Greens Family
DMC 520 in context with nearby shades from the greens color family.
About DMC 520
Meet DMC 520, Fern Green dark — a muted, dark thread in the greens family with true green tones. The shade reads as dramatic and quiet — a go-to choice for foliage and nature scenes. It also turns up in patterns built around holiday projects and landscape details.
Frequently Asked Questions
DMC 520 — what color is it?
The color of DMC 520 is Fern Green dark — a dark green thread (hex #3A4734, RGB 58, 71, 52). It shows up most in cactus motifs and shamrock designs.
What is the Anchor equivalent of DMC 520?
The closest Anchor match for DMC 520 (Fern Green dark) is Anchor 861 (Fern Green Dark) with a 85% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include Anchor 262 (Laurel Green Dark, 74%) and Anchor 263 (Loden Green Dark, 71%).
Which DMC threads are close to 520?
The closest DMC threads to 520 are 3362 Pine Green dark (ΔE 2.98), 935 Avocado Green dark (ΔE 3.97), and 3051 Green Grey dark (ΔE 5.59). These are useful substitutes when 520 is unavailable or for building gradients.
What is DMC 520 good for?
DMC 520 (Fern Green dark) is commonly used in cross-stitch projects featuring cactus motifs, shamrock designs, frog patterns, moss textures. Its dark tone works well for standalone motifs and as part of larger palettes. This page includes color harmonies and similar shades to pair with 520.
What fabric color works best with DMC 520 (Fern Green 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, 520 has a contrast ratio of about 9.9:1 on white fabric and 2.1:1 on black. As a soft cool shade, its cool cast recedes visually — useful for backgrounds, shadows, water and sky, and calm, restful palettes.