DMC 838 Beige Brown Very Dark
On screen, DMC 838 Beige Brown Very Dark reads as a dark, muted brown (#594937). Anchor has no exact twin: its nearest is Anchor 1086 Mocha Brown Dark at ΔE 3.7 (close), while Madeira offers Madeira 1811 Beaver Gray Dark at ΔE 4.6 (close).
Updated
DMC stranded cotton
DMC 838 Beige Brown Very Dark
#594937 · RGB 89, 73, 55
Closest to DMC 838 in other brands
- Anchor 1086 Mocha Brown Dark ΔE 3.7 close
- Madeira 1811 Beaver Gray Dark ΔE 4.6 close
- Perler Brown ΔE 8.8 similar
- Hama 63 Bronze ΔE 11.8 loose
- Artkal S S16 Brown ΔE 9.5 similar
- Nabbi N02 Dark Brown ΔE 4.6 close
DMC 838 color values
| Code | 838 |
|---|---|
| Name | Beige Brown Very Dark |
| Hex (screen) | #594937 |
| RGB | 89, 73, 55 |
| CIELAB (D65) | L* 32.2, a* 3.8, b* 13.3 |
| HSL | 32°, 24 %, 28 % |
| Color family | Brown, 48 of 55 lightest first |
| Lightness | dark (L* 32.2) |
| DMC color card | row 18-25 |
| Nearest Anchor | Anchor 1086 Mocha Brown Dark, ΔE 3.7 |
DMC 838 equivalents in other brands
None of these 14 picks is a perfect twin of DMC 838: the best is Anchor 1086 at ΔE 3.7.
| Brand | Color | Name | ΔE2000 | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchor | 1086 | Mocha Brown Dark | 3.7 | close |
| Anchor | 904 | Mocha Brown Dark | 4.1 | close |
| Anchor | 273 | Stone Gray Dark | 5.0 | close |
| Madeira | 1811 | Beaver Gray Dark | 4.6 | close |
| Madeira | 1905 | Beige Gray Very Dark | 5.4 | close |
| Madeira | 1809 | Shell Gray Very Dark | 8.4 | similar |
| Perler | Brown | code 80-19012 | 8.8 | similar |
| Perler | Gingerbread | code 80-15250 | 12.8 | loose |
| Hama | 63 | Bronze | 11.8 | loose |
| Hama | 12 | Brown | 11.9 | loose |
| Artkal S | S16 | Brown | 9.5 | similar |
| Artkal S | S63 | Metallic Gold | 9.6 | similar |
| Nabbi | N02 | Dark Brown | 4.6 | close |
| Nabbi | N03 | Brown Medium | 9.3 | similar |
DMC shades closest to DMC 838
No other DMC color comes within ΔE 3 of DMC 838; the nearest, DMC 839 Beige Brown Dark, sits at ΔE 4.4.
| Color | Name | Hex | ΔE2000 | Lighter or darker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 839 | Beige Brown Dark | #675541 | 4.4 | lighter |
| 3031 | Mocha Brown Very Dark | #4b3c2a | 4.4 | darker |
| 3781 | Mocha Brown Dark | #6b5743 | 5.4 | lighter |
| 3021 | Brown Gray Very Dark | #4f4b41 | 6.8 | more muted |
| 08 | Driftwood Dark | #6a5046 | 8.1 | a little lighter |
| 779 | Cocoa Dark | #624b45 | 8.3 | a little lighter and slightly more muted |
| 3787 | Brown Gray Dark | #625d50 | 8.8 | lighter and slightly more muted |
| 610 | Drab Brown Dark | #796047 | 9.5 | lighter and slightly more saturated |
Shading DMC 838: lighter and darker brown steps
4 lighter steps and 4 darker steps from the DMC brown family, L* from 38 to 14.
| Step | Color | Name | L* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 lighter | 3781 | Mocha Brown Dark | 38.5 |
| 3 lighter | 839 | Beige Brown Dark | 37.4 |
| 2 lighter | 08 | Driftwood Dark | 36.5 |
| 1 lighter | 779 | Cocoa Dark | 34.1 |
| this color | 838 | Beige Brown Very Dark | 32.2 |
| 1 darker | 801 | Coffee Brown Dark | 28.8 |
| 2 darker | 3031 | Mocha Brown Very Dark | 26.4 |
| 3 darker | 898 | Coffee Brown Very Dark | 20.5 |
| 4 darker | 938 | Coffee Brown Ultra Dark | 14.4 |
Blends that stitch up close to DMC 838
One strand each of DMC 839 and DMC 3031 models at ΔE 0.6, closer than any single DMC shade (best single: DMC 839, ΔE 4.4).
| Recipe (2 strands) | Blend hex | ΔE to DMC 838 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 × DMC 839 Beige Brown Dark + 1 × DMC 3031 Mocha Brown Very Dark | #5a4a37 | 0.6 |
| 1 × DMC 3031 Mocha Brown Very Dark + 1 × DMC 3781 Mocha Brown Dark | #5d4b38 | 1.2 |
| 1 × DMC 3787 Brown Gray Dark + 1 × DMC 898 Coffee Brown Very Dark | #57493b | 1.8 |
Outline and backstitch colors for DMC 838
Ranked by WCAG contrast ratio against #594937; 3:1 or more keeps a backstitch line readable.
| Role | Color | Name | Contrast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonal outline (brown) | 3778 | Terra Cotta Light | 3.2:1 |
| Strongest contrast | B5200 | Snow White | 8.6:1 |
| Softer gray or brown line | 03 | Tin Medium | 4.4:1 |
Stitching with DMC 838
Substituting DMC 838 takes care: Anchor 1086 is practically the same in lightness and saturation (ΔE 3.7), and Madeira 1811 is a little lighter and slightly more muted (ΔE 4.6). Stitch a small test on your fabric before you commit a whole area.
DMC 838 is number 48 of 55 in the DMC brown family, counted from the lightest. For shading, step up to DMC 779 Cocoa Dark and down to DMC 801 Coffee Brown Dark. No other DMC shade sits within ΔE 3, so it is hard to confuse with the rest of the card.
DMC 838 stands out on white or cream fabric (contrast 8.6:1 against white) and turns subtle on black Aida (2.4:1).
For a fuse-bead version of the same design, the nearest beads are Perler Brown (ΔE 8.8), Hama 63 Bronze (ΔE 11.8) and Artkal S S16 Brown (ΔE 9.5); beads come in fewer shades than DMC, so expect a similar shade at best.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Anchor equivalent of DMC 838?
Anchor 1086 Mocha Brown Dark is the closest Anchor match to DMC 838 Beige Brown Very Dark (ΔE 3.7, close). Runners-up: Anchor 904 (ΔE 4.1) and Anchor 273 (ΔE 5.0).
What color is DMC 838?
DMC 838 Beige Brown Very Dark is a dark, muted brown in the brown family: hex #594937, RGB 89, 73, 55, L* 32.2. These are screen values for a dyed thread, so check a real skein in daylight.
What can I use instead of DMC 838?
Inside DMC, DMC 839 Beige Brown Dark is nearest (ΔE 4.4). From other brands, Anchor 1086 (ΔE 3.7) or Madeira 1811 (ΔE 4.6). A 1+1 blend of DMC 839 and DMC 3031 models at ΔE 0.6.
What is DMC 838 in Perler beads?
Perler Brown (#674c44) is the nearest Perler bead at ΔE 8.8 (similar). In Hama the nearest is Hama 63 Bronze (ΔE 11.8).
What is the Madeira equivalent of DMC 838?
Madeira 1811 Beaver Gray Dark at ΔE 4.6 (close), then Madeira 1905 at ΔE 5.4.
Related
Nearest DMC colors
- DMC 3031 Mocha Brown Very Dark ΔE 4.4
- DMC 3781 Mocha Brown Dark ΔE 5.4
- DMC 3021 Brown Gray Very Dark ΔE 6.8
- DMC 3787 Brown Gray Dark ΔE 8.8
- DMC 610 Drab Brown Dark ΔE 9.5
DMC 838 in other brands
- Anchor 1086 Mocha Brown Dark ΔE 3.7
- Madeira 1811 Beaver Gray Dark ΔE 4.6
- Perler Brown ΔE 8.8
- Hama 63 Bronze ΔE 11.8
- Artkal S S16 Brown ΔE 9.5
- Nabbi N02 Dark Brown ΔE 4.6