796 — Royal Blue dark
Blues family#242B70
Looking up DMC 796? It's Royal Blue dark, a medium-dark blue shade (#242B70 / RGB 36, 43, 112). Scroll down for Crescent Colors, Anchor, and Madeira equivalents ranked by visual similarity, plus 8 close DMC alternatives and curated color harmonies.
About DMC 796
DMC Six-Strand Embroidery Floss (Mouliné Spécial)
- Also sold as
- Sévres Blue
- Fiber
- 100% cotton
- Strands
- 6 strands
- Sold as
- 8 m skein
Brand Equivalents for DMC 796
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 796 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 796 (Royal Blue dark) in any brand.
Similar DMC Colors to 796
Closest DMC threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with DMC 796
It pops on white and light fabric but nearly disappears on black, so pair it with a light or neutral ground.
DMC 796 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 Royal Blue dark turns up.
DMC 796 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 796.
Diamond painting: the same number is sold as a drill — Diamond Dotz D796, Diamond Drills USA DMC796. A kit legend or drill bag marked 796 means this color. See the diamond painting DMC chart for every code with drill availability.
Color Harmonies for DMC 796
DMC threads that pair well with 796, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Blues Family
DMC796 in context with nearby shades from the blues color family.
About DMC 796
Known as Royal Blue dark, DMC 796 is a medium-dark, vivid shade sitting in the blues family with true blue tones. Expect a intense and saturated look that suits cool-toned backgrounds, nautical themes, and similar motifs. Cross stitch enthusiasts often reach for this thread when stitching winter scenes or forget-me-nots.
Frequently Asked Questions
DMC 796 — what color is it?
The color of DMC 796 is Royal Blue dark — a medium-dark blue thread (hex #242B70, RGB 36, 43, 112). It shows up most in porcelain patterns and hydrangea blooms.
What is the Anchor equivalent of DMC 796?
The closest Anchor match for DMC 796 (Royal Blue dark) is Anchor 134 (Sky Blue Ultra Dark) with a 91% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include Anchor 178 (Cornflower Blue Very D, 80%) and Anchor 139 (Delft Very Dark, 76%).
Which DMC threads are close to 796?
The closest DMC threads to 796 are 820 Royal Blue very dark (ΔE 3.55), 158 Cornflower Blue medium (ΔE 3.94), and 791 Cornflower Blue very dark (ΔE 4.14). These are useful substitutes when 796 is unavailable or for building gradients.
What is DMC 796 good for?
DMC 796 (Royal Blue dark) is commonly used in cross-stitch projects featuring porcelain patterns, hydrangea blooms, skies, water. 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 796.
What fabric color works best with DMC 796 (Royal Blue dark)?
It pops on white and light fabric but nearly disappears on black, so pair it with a light or neutral ground. For reference, 796 has a contrast ratio of about 12.7:1 on white fabric and 1.7:1 on black. As a cool shade, its cool cast recedes visually — useful for backgrounds, shadows, water and sky, and calm, restful palettes.
Is there a metallic or satin version of DMC 796?
No. DMC 796 (Royal Blue dark) 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 796?
Diamond Dotz D796 and Diamond Drills USA DMC796 carry the same number. Diamond painting adopted DMC's numbering, so a kit legend or drill bag marked 796 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 796?
Outside the main floss brands, the nearest shades we hold are YLI Silk 209 Medium Royal Blue (100%), Appleton 661 Cool Neon (93%), Mill Hill Beads 80020 (93%). Percentages are perceptual color distance between the two swatches; anything above about 93% is hard to tell apart on fabric.