721 — Orange Spice medium
Reds family
DMC 721 (Orange Spice medium) is a medium-light, highly saturated red shade with hex code #F25C2C and RGB values 242, 92, 44. Below you'll find the closest Sullivans, Cosmo, and Classic Colorworks equivalents — ranked by visual color similarity — plus 8 similar DMC shades and color harmony pairings.
Brand Equivalents for DMC 721
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 721
Closest DMC threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with DMC 721
It has moderate contrast on both light and dark fabric — usable on either, but test a few stitches on your chosen ground first.
DMC 721 (Orange Spice medium) 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.
Its nearest neighbor, DMC 947 (Burnt Orange), is barely a step away (ΔE 2.99). Tweed the two together for subtle shading, or substitute freely when one is out of stock.
Color Harmonies for DMC 721
DMC threads that pair well with 721, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Reds Family
DMC 721 in context with nearby shades from the reds color family.
About DMC 721
Orange Spice medium (catalog code DMC 721) is a medium-light, highly saturated shade from the reds family with red-orange tones. This thread brings a fresh and confident presence to projects featuring cardinal birds or apple motifs. Look for it in charts that feature ladybug designs or barn scenes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What color is DMC 721?
DMC 721 is called Orange Spice medium. It's a medium-light red shade (hex #F25C2C, RGB 242, 92, 44) in the reds family, commonly used for holiday designs, bold accents, and similar motifs.
What's the closest Anchor match for DMC 721?
The closest Anchor match for DMC 721 (Orange Spice medium) is Anchor 316 (Tangerine Dark) with a 86% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include Anchor 925 (Yellow Green Very Dark, 79%) and Anchor 324 (Orange Spice Medium, 79%).
What's a good substitute for DMC 721?
The closest DMC threads to 721 are 947 Burnt Orange (ΔE 2.99), 970 Pumpkin light (ΔE 4.4), and 608 Burnt Orange (ΔE 4.75). These are useful substitutes when 721 is unavailable or for building gradients.
What projects use DMC 721?
Cross-stitchers pull DMC 721 (Orange Spice medium) for charts featuring holiday designs, bold accents, berries, valentines. The medium-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 721 (Orange Spice medium)?
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, 721 has a contrast ratio of about 3.3:1 on white fabric and 6.3:1 on black. As a warm shade, its warm cast advances toward the viewer — good for focal points, highlights, and cozy, inviting palettes.