946 — Burnt Orange medium
Reds family#F53D1C
Below: DMC 946 (Burnt Orange medium), a medium, highly saturated red shade with hex #F53D1C and RGB 245, 61, 28. 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 946
DMC Six-Strand Embroidery Floss (Mouliné Spécial)
- Also sold as
- Fire
- Fiber
- 100% cotton
- Strands
- 6 strands
- Sold as
- 8 m skein
Brand Equivalents for DMC 946
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 946 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 946 (Burnt Orange medium) in any brand.
Similar DMC Colors to 946
Closest DMC threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with DMC 946
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 946 (Burnt Orange medium) draws the eye — a natural pick for focal motifs, small pops of color, and details you want to read first.
DMC 946 (Burnt Orange medium) sits a hair from DMC 608 (Burnt Orange) (ΔE 2.46) — close enough to blend a strand of each for a smooth gradient or to swap one for the other in a pinch.
DMC 946 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 Burnt Orange medium turns up.
DMC 946 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 946.
Diamond painting: the same number is sold as a drill — Diamond Dotz D946, Diamond Drills USA DMC946. A kit legend or drill bag marked 946 means this color. See the diamond painting DMC chart for every code with drill availability.
Color Harmonies for DMC 946
DMC threads that pair well with 946, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Reds Family
DMC946 in context with nearby shades from the reds color family.
About DMC 946
Meet DMC 946, Burnt Orange medium — a highly saturated, medium thread in the reds family with red-orange tones. The vibrant and steady character of this shade lends itself well to roses and hearts. Stitchers frequently choose it for holiday designs and bold accents in their projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
DMC 946 — what color is it?
The color of DMC 946 is Burnt Orange medium — a medium red thread (hex #F53D1C, RGB 245, 61, 28). It shows up most in cardinal birds and apple motifs.
What is the Anchor equivalent of DMC 946?
The closest Anchor match for DMC 946 (Burnt Orange medium) is Anchor 332 (Orange Dark) with a 80% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include Anchor 333 (Orange Very Dark, 79%) and Anchor 330 (Orange, 70%).
Which DMC threads are close to 946?
The closest DMC threads to 946 are 608 Burnt Orange (ΔE 2.46), 947 Burnt Orange (ΔE 3.61), and 721 Orange Spice medium (ΔE 5.19). These are useful substitutes when 946 is unavailable or for building gradients.
What is DMC 946 good for?
DMC 946 (Burnt Orange medium) is commonly used in cross-stitch projects featuring cardinal birds, apple motifs, ladybug designs, barn scenes. Its medium tone works well for standalone motifs and as part of larger palettes. This page includes color harmonies and similar shades to pair with 946.
What fabric color works best with DMC 946 (Burnt Orange 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, 946 has a contrast ratio of about 3.8:1 on white fabric and 5.6:1 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 946?
No. DMC 946 (Burnt Orange 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 946?
Diamond Dotz D946 and Diamond Drills USA DMC946 carry the same number. Diamond painting adopted DMC's numbering, so a kit legend or drill bag marked 946 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 946?
Outside the main floss brands, the nearest shades we hold are Dimensions 6116 Burnt Orange-Red (90%), Finca 1163 Burnt Orange-Red (90%), Soie d'Alger 914 Christmas Red light (89%). Percentages are perceptual color distance between the two swatches; anything above about 93% is hard to tell apart on fabric.