742 — Tangerine light
Oranges family#FFA523
DMC 742 — Tangerine light — has hex #FFA523 and RGB 255, 165, 35. This medium-light, highly saturated orange thread sits alongside its closest Anchor, Madeira, and J&P Coates matches below, with 8 similar DMC shades and a panel of color harmonies for palette planning.
About DMC 742
DMC Six-Strand Embroidery Floss (Mouliné Spécial)
- Also sold as
- Clementine
- Fiber
- 100% cotton
- Strands
- 6 strands
- Sold as
- 8 m skein
Brand Equivalents for DMC 742
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 742 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 742 (Tangerine light) in any brand.
Similar DMC Colors to 742
Closest DMC threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with DMC 742
It has moderate contrast on both light and dark fabric — usable on either, but test a few stitches on your chosen ground first.
Saturated shades like DMC 742 (Tangerine light) punch above their stitch count — ideal for the one detail in a design that should grab attention.
Because DMC 972 (Canary deep) is so near (ΔE 1.56), the pair makes a natural two-step gradient — handy for shading skin, petals, or skies without a hard seam.
DMC 742 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 Tangerine light turns up.
DMC 742 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 742.
Diamond painting: the same number is sold as a drill — Diamond Dotz D742, Diamond Drills USA DMC742. A kit legend or drill bag marked 742 means this color. See the diamond painting DMC chart for every code with drill availability.
Color Harmonies for DMC 742
DMC threads that pair well with 742, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Oranges Family
DMC742 in context with nearby shades from the oranges color family.
About DMC 742
DMC 742 is the floss known as Tangerine light: a highly saturated, medium-light member of the oranges family with golden orange tones. Its tone is balanced and lively, making it a popular choice for warm accents and seasonal designs. It pairs nicely in designs that call for pumpkins or marigolds.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does DMC 742 look like?
DMC 742 (Tangerine light) is a medium-light shade in the oranges family with hex #FFA523 and RGB 255, 165, 35. Stitchers reach for it in projects featuring fall harvest scenes and monarch butterflies.
Which Anchor thread matches DMC 742?
The closest Anchor match for DMC 742 (Tangerine light) is Anchor 303 (Burnt Orange Medium) with a 95% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include Anchor 306 (Gold, 79%) and Anchor 313 (Tangerine Light, 75%).
What DMC colors are similar to 742?
The closest DMC threads to 742 are 972 Canary deep (ΔE 1.56), 728 Golden Yellow (ΔE 5.26), and 725 Topaz (ΔE 7). These are useful substitutes when 742 is unavailable or for building gradients.
When should I use DMC 742?
Reach for DMC 742 (Tangerine light) when your project calls for fall harvest scenes, monarch butterflies, persimmon patterns, autumn leaves. Its medium-light character carries both small accents and wider palette work; the harmony picks on this page show natural companions to 742.
What fabric color works best with DMC 742 (Tangerine light)?
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, 742 has a contrast ratio of about 2:1 on white fabric and 10.7:1 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 742?
No. DMC 742 (Tangerine 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 742?
Diamond Dotz D742 and Diamond Drills USA DMC742 carry the same number. Diamond painting adopted DMC's numbering, so a kit legend or drill bag marked 742 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 742?
Outside the main floss brands, the nearest shades we hold are Coco M17 (97%), MARD P17 (97%), MARD Midi P17 (97%). Percentages are perceptual color distance between the two swatches; anything above about 93% is hard to tell apart on fabric.