0603 — Plum Medium
Pinks family
Looking up Madeira 0603? It's Plum Medium, a medium-dark pink shade (#881448 / RGB 136, 20, 72). Scroll down for Cosmo, Classic Colorworks, and Weeks Dye Works equivalents ranked by visual similarity, plus 8 close Madeira alternatives and curated color harmonies.
Brand Equivalents for Madeira 0603
Top 5 closest matches in each brand, ranked by visual color similarity. How matching works
DMC
Anchor
J&P Coates
Sullivans
Classic Colorworks
Weeks Dye Works
Gentle Art Sampler
Valdani
Crescent Colours
Similar Madeira Colors to 0603
Closest Madeira threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with Madeira 0603
It has moderate contrast on both light and dark fabric — usable on either, but test a few stitches on your chosen ground first.
Saturated shades like Madeira 0603 (Plum Medium) punch above their stitch count — ideal for the one detail in a design that should grab attention.
Because Madeira 0704 (Cerise Very Dark) is so near (ΔE 1.59), the pair makes a natural two-step gradient — handy for shading skin, petals, or skies without a hard seam.
Color Harmonies for Madeira 0603
Madeira threads that pair well with 0603, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Pinks Family
Madeira 0603 in context with nearby shades from the pinks color family.
About Madeira 0603
Madeira 0603 is the floss known as Plum Medium: a vivid, medium-dark member of the pinks family with rose pink tones. The shade reads as deep and vivid — a go-to choice for romantic motifs and blush accents. It also turns up in patterns built around cherry blossoms and ballet themes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Madeira 0603 look like?
Madeira 0603 (Plum Medium) is a medium-dark shade in the pinks family with hex #881448 and RGB 136, 20, 72. Stitchers reach for it in projects featuring tulip blooms and cosmetics-themed designs.
Which DMC thread matches Madeira 0603?
The closest DMC match for Madeira 0603 (Plum Medium) is DMC 3803 (Mauve medium) with a 83% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include DMC 915 (Plum dark, 79%) and DMC 917 (Plum medium, 78%).
What Madeira colors are similar to 0603?
The closest Madeira threads to 0603 are 0704 Cerise Very Dark (ΔE 1.59), 0602 Plum Dark (ΔE 4.9), and 0703 Cerise Dark (ΔE 5.13). These are useful substitutes when 0603 is unavailable or for building gradients.
When should I use Madeira 0603?
Reach for Madeira 0603 (Plum Medium) when your project calls for tulip blooms, cosmetics-themed designs, rose buds, florals. Its medium-dark character carries both small accents and wider palette work; the harmony picks on this page show natural companions to 0603.
What fabric color works best with Madeira 0603 (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, 0603 has a contrast ratio of about 9.4:1 on white fabric and 2.2:1 on black. As a warm shade, its warm cast advances toward the viewer — good for focal points, highlights, and cozy, inviting palettes.