803 — Baby Blue ultra very dark
Blues family#203660
DMC 803 (Baby Blue ultra very dark) is a medium-dark, moderately saturated blue shade with hex code #203660 and RGB values 32, 54, 96. Below you'll find the closest Valdani, Crescent Colors, and Anchor equivalents — ranked by visual color similarity — plus 8 similar DMC shades and color harmony pairings.
About DMC 803
DMC Six-Strand Embroidery Floss (Mouliné Spécial)
- Also sold as
- Inky Blue
- Fiber
- 100% cotton
- Strands
- 6 strands
- Sold as
- 8 m skein
Brand Equivalents for DMC 803
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 803 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 803 (Baby Blue ultra very dark) in any brand.
Similar DMC Colors to 803
Closest DMC threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with DMC 803
It pops on white and light fabric but nearly disappears on black, so pair it with a light or neutral ground.
DMC 803 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 Baby Blue ultra very dark turns up.
DMC 803 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 803.
Diamond painting: the same number is sold as a drill — Diamond Dotz D803, Diamond Drills USA DMC803. A kit legend or drill bag marked 803 means this color. See the diamond painting DMC chart for every code with drill availability.
Color Harmonies for DMC 803
DMC threads that pair well with 803, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Blues Family
DMC803 in context with nearby shades from the blues color family.
About DMC 803
Meet DMC 803, Baby Blue ultra very dark — a moderately saturated, medium-dark thread in the blues family with sky blue tones. Its rich and grounded presence shines in skies and water alike. Pull this thread for denim textures or cool-toned backgrounds when you need a dependable shade.
Frequently Asked Questions
DMC 803 — what color is it?
The color of DMC 803 is Baby Blue ultra very dark — a medium-dark blue thread (hex #203660, RGB 32, 54, 96). It shows up most in bluebird motifs and whale designs.
What is the Anchor equivalent of DMC 803?
The closest Anchor match for DMC 803 (Baby Blue ultra very dark) is Anchor 148 (Navy Blue Medium) with a 79% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include Anchor 149 (Navy Blue Medium Dark, 78%) and Anchor 139 (Delft Very Dark, 77%).
Which DMC threads are close to 803?
The closest DMC threads to 803 are 311 Navy Blue medium (ΔE 3.34), 824 Blue very dark (ΔE 3.79), and 336 Navy Blue (ΔE 4.3). These are useful substitutes when 803 is unavailable or for building gradients.
What is DMC 803 good for?
DMC 803 (Baby Blue ultra very dark) is commonly used in cross-stitch projects featuring bluebird motifs, whale designs, sapphire accents, porcelain patterns. 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 803.
What fabric color works best with DMC 803 (Baby Blue ultra very dark)?
It pops on white and light fabric but nearly disappears on black, so pair it with a light or neutral ground. For reference, 803 has a contrast ratio of about 11.9:1 on white fabric and 1.8:1 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 803?
No. DMC 803 (Baby Blue ultra very 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 803?
Diamond Dotz D803 and Diamond Drills USA DMC803 carry the same number. Diamond painting adopted DMC's numbering, so a kit legend or drill bag marked 803 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 803?
Outside the main floss brands, the nearest shades we hold are Waverly Wool 7102 Waverly Wool (94%), Paternayan 1550 Ice Blue (92%), Coats Puppets 8148 Night blue (91%). Percentages are perceptual color distance between the two swatches; anything above about 93% is hard to tell apart on fabric.