816 — Garnet
Reds family#89132C
Looking up DMC 816? It's Garnet, a medium-dark red shade (#89132C / RGB 137, 19, 44). Scroll down for Cosmo, Classic Colorworks, and Weeks Dye Works equivalents ranked by visual similarity, plus 8 close DMC alternatives and curated color harmonies.
About DMC 816
DMC Six-Strand Embroidery Floss (Mouliné Spécial)
- Also sold as
- Cherry Red
- Fiber
- 100% cotton
- Strands
- 6 strands
- Sold as
- 8 m skein
Brand Equivalents for DMC 816
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 816 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 816 (Garnet) in any brand.
Similar DMC Colors to 816
Closest DMC threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with DMC 816
It has moderate contrast on both light and dark fabric — usable on either, but test a few stitches on your chosen ground first.
With its high saturation, DMC 816 (Garnet) draws the eye — a natural pick for focal motifs, small pops of color, and details you want to read first.
DMC 816 (Garnet) sits a hair from DMC 498 (Christmas Red dark) (ΔE 1.8) — close enough to blend a strand of each for a smooth gradient or to swap one for the other in a pinch.
DMC 816 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 Garnet turns up.
Diamond painting: the same number is sold as a drill — Diamond Dotz D816, Diamond Drills USA DMC816. A kit legend or drill bag marked 816 means this color. See the diamond painting DMC chart for every code with drill availability.
Color Harmonies for DMC 816
DMC threads that pair well with 816, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Reds Family
DMC816 in context with nearby shades from the reds color family.
About DMC 816
Meet DMC 816, Garnet — a vivid, medium-dark thread in the reds family with warm crimson tones. The shade reads as intense and saturated — a go-to choice for roses and hearts. It also turns up in patterns built around holiday designs and bold accents.
Frequently Asked Questions
DMC 816 — what color is it?
The color of DMC 816 is Garnet — a medium-dark red thread (hex #89132C, RGB 137, 19, 44). It shows up most in cardinal birds and apple motifs.
What is the Anchor equivalent of DMC 816?
The closest Anchor match for DMC 816 (Garnet) is Anchor 43 (Garnet Medium) with a 87% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include Anchor 1028 (Dusty Plum Dark, 77%) and Anchor 1029 (Plum Dark, 74%).
Which DMC threads are close to 816?
The closest DMC threads to 816 are 498 Christmas Red dark (ΔE 1.8), 304 Christmas Red medium (ΔE 3.63), and 150 Dusty Rose ultra very dark (ΔE 3.63). These are useful substitutes when 816 is unavailable or for building gradients.
What is DMC 816 good for?
DMC 816 (Garnet) is commonly used in cross-stitch projects featuring cardinal birds, apple motifs, ladybug designs, barn scenes. 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 816.
What fabric color works best with DMC 816 (Garnet)?
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, 816 has a contrast ratio of about 9.6:1 on white fabric and 2.2:1 on black. As a warm shade, its warm cast advances toward the viewer — good for focal points, highlights, and cozy, inviting palettes.
Does DMC 816 come in a satin, metallic, or Étoile version?
Yes. The same number is made as DMC Étoile C816. The base shade is matched across the lines, but the fiber changes the look: Satin is a high-sheen rayon, Light Effects is a metallic polyester most people blend one strand at a time, and Étoile is cotton with a sparkle filament that stitches like ordinary floss.
What is the diamond painting drill code for DMC 816?
Diamond Dotz D816 and Diamond Drills USA DMC816 carry the same number. Diamond painting adopted DMC's numbering, so a kit legend or drill bag marked 816 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 816?
Outside the main floss brands, the nearest shades we hold are Needle Necessities C141 Dark Xmas Red (94%), Unitas Ljubica 879 (93%), Appleton 947 Bright Rose Pink (93%). Percentages are perceptual color distance between the two swatches; anything above about 93% is hard to tell apart on fabric.