917 — Plum medium
Pinks family#911B5B
Looking up DMC 917? It's Plum medium, a medium-dark pink shade (#911B5B / RGB 145, 27, 91). 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 917
DMC Six-Strand Embroidery Floss (Mouliné Spécial)
- Also sold as
- Dark Magenta
- Fiber
- 100% cotton
- Strands
- 6 strands
- Sold as
- 8 m skein
Brand Equivalents for DMC 917
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 917 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 917 (Plum medium) in any brand.
Similar DMC Colors to 917
Closest DMC threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with DMC 917
It has moderate contrast on both light and dark fabric — usable on either, but test a few stitches on your chosen ground first.
DMC 917 (Plum medium) 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.
DMC 917 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 Plum medium turns up.
DMC 917 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 917.
Diamond painting: the same number is sold as a drill — Diamond Dotz D917, Diamond Drills USA DMC917. A kit legend or drill bag marked 917 means this color. See the diamond painting DMC chart for every code with drill availability.
Color Harmonies for DMC 917
DMC threads that pair well with 917, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Pinks Family
DMC917 in context with nearby shades from the pinks color family.
About DMC 917
A medium-dark, vivid entry in the pinks family, DMC 917 carries the name Plum medium with rose pink tones. The shade reads as strong and rich — a go-to choice for cosmetics-themed designs and rose buds. It also turns up in patterns built around florals and skin tones.
Frequently Asked Questions
What color is DMC 917?
DMC 917 is called Plum medium. It's a medium-dark pink shade (hex #911B5B, RGB 145, 27, 91) in the pinks family, commonly used for ballet themes, baby projects, and similar motifs.
What's the closest Anchor match for DMC 917?
The closest Anchor match for DMC 917 (Plum medium) is Anchor 89 (Mauve Dark) with a 66% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include Anchor 94 (Purple Dark, 65%) and Anchor 972 (Dusty Violet Very Dark, 53%).
What's a good substitute for DMC 917?
The closest DMC threads to 917 are 718 Plum (ΔE 5.16), 3803 Mauve medium (ΔE 6.69), and 915 Plum dark (ΔE 7.42). These are useful substitutes when 917 is unavailable or for building gradients.
What projects use DMC 917?
Cross-stitchers pull DMC 917 (Plum medium) for charts featuring ballet themes, baby projects, peony petals, flamingo designs. 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 917 (Plum medium)?
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, 917 has a contrast ratio of about 8.4:1 on white fabric and 2.5:1 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 917?
No. DMC 917 (Plum medium) 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 917?
Diamond Dotz D917 and Diamond Drills USA DMC917 carry the same number. Diamond painting adopted DMC's numbering, so a kit legend or drill bag marked 917 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 917?
Outside the main floss brands, the nearest shades we hold are Soie d'Alger 1045 Plum medium (100%), Hama Mini H82 Plum (98%), Artkal R R49 Mulberry Wood (97%). Percentages are perceptual color distance between the two swatches; anything above about 93% is hard to tell apart on fabric.