817 — Coral Red very dark
Reds family
DMC 817 — Coral Red very dark — has hex #A60D1B and RGB 166, 13, 27. This medium-dark, highly saturated red thread sits alongside its closest Classic Colorworks, Weeks Dye Works, and Gentle Art Sampler matches below, with 8 similar DMC shades and a panel of color harmonies for palette planning.
Brand Equivalents for DMC 817
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 817
Closest DMC threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with DMC 817
It has moderate contrast on both light and dark fabric — usable on either, but test a few stitches on your chosen ground first.
DMC 817 (Coral Red very dark) 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.
Color Harmonies for DMC 817
DMC threads that pair well with 817, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Reds Family
DMC 817 in context with nearby shades from the reds color family.
About DMC 817
Coral Red very dark (catalog code DMC 817) is a medium-dark, highly saturated shade from the reds family with warm crimson tones. It has a strong and rich feel that suits hearts and holiday designs particularly well. Designers often pair this shade with bold accents or berries for balanced palettes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What color is DMC 817?
DMC 817 is called Coral Red very dark. It's a medium-dark red shade (hex #A60D1B, RGB 166, 13, 27) in the reds family, commonly used for apple motifs, ladybug designs, and similar motifs.
What's the closest Anchor match for DMC 817?
The closest Anchor match for DMC 817 (Coral Red very dark) is Anchor 1015 (Mahogany Ultra Very Dark) with a 83% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include Anchor 13 (Coral Dark, 66%) and Anchor 47 (Christmas Red, 65%).
What's a good substitute for DMC 817?
The closest DMC threads to 817 are 321 Christmas Red (ΔE 3.24), 919 Red Copper (ΔE 4.51), and 22 Alizarin (ΔE 4.91). These are useful substitutes when 817 is unavailable or for building gradients.
What projects use DMC 817?
Cross-stitchers pull DMC 817 (Coral Red very dark) for charts featuring apple motifs, ladybug designs, barn scenes, tomato patterns. The medium-dark 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 817 (Coral Red very dark)?
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, 817 has a contrast ratio of about 7.8:1 on white fabric and 2.7:1 on black. As a warm shade, its warm cast advances toward the viewer — good for focal points, highlights, and cozy, inviting palettes.