902 — Garnet very dark
Reds family#5B202E
Need details on DMC 902? This dark, moderately saturated red shade (Garnet very dark) is hex #5B202E, RGB 91, 32, 46. Cross-brand equivalents in Weeks Dye Works, Gentle Art Sampler, and Valdani are listed below — ranked by perceptual similarity — alongside 8 nearby DMC shades and color-theory harmony pairings.
About DMC 902
DMC Six-Strand Embroidery Floss (Mouliné Spécial)
- Also sold as
- Magenta Red
- Fiber
- 100% cotton
- Strands
- 6 strands
- Sold as
- 8 m skein
Brand Equivalents for DMC 902
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 902 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 902 (Garnet very dark) in any brand.
Similar DMC Colors to 902
Closest DMC threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with DMC 902
It pops on white and light fabric but nearly disappears on black, so pair it with a light or neutral ground.
Because DMC 814 (Garnet dark) is so near (ΔE 3.11), the pair makes a natural two-step gradient — handy for shading skin, petals, or skies without a hard seam.
DMC 902 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 very dark turns up.
DMC 902 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 902.
Diamond painting: the same number is sold as a drill — Diamond Dotz D902, Diamond Drills USA DMC902. A kit legend or drill bag marked 902 means this color. See the diamond painting DMC chart for every code with drill availability.
Color Harmonies for DMC 902
DMC threads that pair well with 902, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Reds Family
DMC902 in context with nearby shades from the reds color family.
About DMC 902
DMC 902 is the floss known as Garnet very dark: a moderately saturated, dark member of the reds family with warm crimson tones. Stitchers describe its character as bold and dramatic, perfect for apple motifs and ladybug designs. It blends comfortably into projects centered on barn scenes and tomato patterns.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does DMC 902 look like?
DMC 902 (Garnet very dark) is a dark shade in the reds family with hex #5B202E and RGB 91, 32, 46. Stitchers reach for it in projects featuring bold accents and berries.
Which Anchor thread matches DMC 902?
The closest Anchor match for DMC 902 (Garnet very dark) is Anchor 70 (Dusty Plum Very Dark) with a 80% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include Anchor 72 (Dusty Plum Ultra Very Dark, 77%) and Anchor 1029 (Plum Dark, 69%).
What DMC colors are similar to 902?
The closest DMC threads to 902 are 814 Garnet dark (ΔE 3.11), 3802 Antique Mauve very dark (ΔE 3.16), and 3685 Mauve dark (ΔE 4.57). These are useful substitutes when 902 is unavailable or for building gradients.
When should I use DMC 902?
Reach for DMC 902 (Garnet 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 902.
What fabric color works best with DMC 902 (Garnet 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, 902 has a contrast ratio of about 12.4:1 on white fabric and 1.7:1 on black. As a 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 902?
No. DMC 902 (Garnet 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 902?
Diamond Dotz D902 and Diamond Drills USA DMC902 carry the same number. Diamond painting adopted DMC's numbering, so a kit legend or drill bag marked 902 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 902?
Outside the main floss brands, the nearest shades we hold are Madeira Rayon 1382 Colonial Rose (94%), PNK Kirov 1507 (92%), Luca-S 90 (90%). Percentages are perceptual color distance between the two swatches; anything above about 93% is hard to tell apart on fabric.