838 — Beige Brown very dark
Reds family#453029
Below: DMC 838 (Beige Brown very dark), a dark, muted red shade with hex #453029 and RGB 69, 48, 41. Find its closest J&P Coates, Sullivans, and Cosmo matches ranked by visual similarity, plus 8 similar DMC shades and a full set of color harmony picks.
About DMC 838
DMC Six-Strand Embroidery Floss (Mouliné Spécial)
- Also sold as
- Dark Wood
- Fiber
- 100% cotton
- Strands
- 6 strands
- Sold as
- 8 m skein
Brand Equivalents for DMC 838
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 838 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 838 (Beige Brown very dark) in any brand.
Similar DMC Colors to 838
Closest DMC threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with DMC 838
It pops on white and light fabric but nearly disappears on black, so pair it with a light or neutral ground.
Because DMC 3031 (Mocha Brown very dark) is so near (ΔE 1.53), the pair makes a natural two-step gradient — handy for shading skin, petals, or skies without a hard seam.
DMC 838 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 Beige Brown very dark turns up.
DMC 838 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 838.
Diamond painting: the same number is sold as a drill — Diamond Dotz D838, Diamond Drills USA DMC838. A kit legend or drill bag marked 838 means this color. See the diamond painting DMC chart for every code with drill availability.
Color Harmonies for DMC 838
DMC threads that pair well with 838, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Reds Family
DMC838 in context with nearby shades from the reds color family.
About DMC 838
DMC 838 is the floss known as Beige Brown very dark: a muted, dark member of the reds family with red-orange tones. The bold and brooding character of this shade lends itself well to apple motifs and ladybug designs. Stitchers frequently choose it for barn scenes and tomato patterns in their projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does DMC 838 look like?
DMC 838 (Beige Brown very dark) is a dark shade in the reds family with hex #453029 and RGB 69, 48, 41. Stitchers reach for it in projects featuring bold accents and berries.
Which Anchor thread matches DMC 838?
The closest Anchor match for DMC 838 (Beige Brown very dark) is Anchor 1088 (Taupe Very Dark) with a 81% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include Anchor 905 (Brown Grey Dark, 77%) and Anchor 382 (Black Brown Very Dark, 68%).
What DMC colors are similar to 838?
The closest DMC threads to 838 are 3031 Mocha Brown very dark (ΔE 1.53), 938 Coffee Brown ultra dark (ΔE 2.33), and 898 Coffee Brown very dark (ΔE 3.32). These are useful substitutes when 838 is unavailable or for building gradients.
When should I use DMC 838?
Reach for DMC 838 (Beige Brown very dark) when your project calls for bold accents, berries, valentines, poppies. Its dark character carries both small accents and wider palette work; the harmony picks on this page show natural companions to 838.
What fabric color works best with DMC 838 (Beige Brown 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, 838 has a contrast ratio of about 12.3:1 on white fabric and 1.7:1 on black. As a soft 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 838?
No. DMC 838 (Beige Brown 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 838?
Diamond Dotz D838 and Diamond Drills USA DMC838 carry the same number. Diamond painting adopted DMC's numbering, so a kit legend or drill bag marked 838 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 838?
Outside the main floss brands, the nearest shades we hold are Paternayan 1422 Coffee Brown (97%), Gamma 3224 коричневый (95%), Coats Puppets 7380 Root brown (92%). Percentages are perceptual color distance between the two swatches; anything above about 93% is hard to tell apart on fabric.