DMC 12 Tender Green
DMC 12 Tender Green is a light, rich green with the screen hex #cdd99a. Anchor has no exact twin: its nearest is Anchor 259 Loden Green Very Light at ΔE 3.8 (close), while Madeira offers Madeira 1209 Yellow Green Ultra Very Light at ΔE 6.8 (similar).
Updated
DMC stranded cotton
DMC 12 Tender Green
#cdd99a · RGB 205, 217, 154
Closest to DMC 12 in other brands
- Anchor 259 Loden Green Very Light ΔE 3.8 close
- Madeira 1209 Yellow Green Ultra Very Light ΔE 6.8 similar
- Perler Celery ΔE 5.3 close
- Hama 101 Eucalyptus ΔE 9.2 similar
- Artkal S S52 Picasso ΔE 9.2 similar
- Nabbi N21 Light Yellow ΔE 9.6 similar
DMC 12 color values
| Code | 12 |
|---|---|
| Name | Tender Green |
| Hex (screen) | #cdd99a |
| RGB | 205, 217, 154 |
| CIELAB (D65) | L* 84.5, a* -14.3, b* 29.8 |
| HSL | 71°, 45 %, 73 % |
| Color family | Green, 12 of 75 lightest first |
| Lightness | light (L* 84.5) |
| Nearest Anchor | Anchor 259 Loden Green Very Light, ΔE 3.8 |
DMC 12 equivalents in other brands
None of these 14 picks is a perfect twin of DMC 12: the best is Anchor 259 at ΔE 3.8.
| Brand | Color | Name | ΔE2000 | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchor | 259 | Loden Green Very Light | 3.8 | close |
| Anchor | 1043 | Grass Green Very Light | 4.2 | close |
| Anchor | 264 | Avocado Very Light | 5.6 | close |
| Madeira | 1209 | Yellow Green Ultra Very Light | 6.8 | similar |
| Madeira | 1604 | Laurel Green Very Light | 7.6 | similar |
| Madeira | 1501 | Avocado Green Very Light | 8.0 | similar |
| Perler | Celery | code 80-15263 | 5.3 | close |
| Perler | Creme | code 80-19002 | 7.0 | similar |
| Hama | 101 | Eucalyptus | 9.2 | similar |
| Hama | 02 | Cream | 9.3 | similar |
| Artkal S | S52 | Picasso | 9.2 | similar |
| Artkal S | S108 | Seashell Beige | 9.2 | similar |
| Nabbi | N21 | Light Yellow | 9.6 | similar |
| Nabbi | N30 | Kiwi | 10.5 | loose |
DMC shades closest to DMC 12
No other DMC color comes within ΔE 3 of DMC 12; the nearest, DMC 472 Avocado Green Ultra Light, sits at ΔE 3.4.
| Color | Name | Hex | ΔE2000 | Lighter or darker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 472 | Avocado Green Ultra Light | #d8e498 | 3.4 | a little lighter and more saturated |
| 11 | Tender Green Light | #e2edb5 | 4.9 | lighter and slightly more muted |
| 15 | Apple Green | #d1eda4 | 5.3 | lighter and slightly more saturated |
| 3348 | Yellow Green Light | #ccd9b1 | 5.5 | more muted |
| 471 | Avocado Green Very Light | #aebf79 | 7.1 | darker and slightly more saturated |
| 165 | Moss Green Very Light | #eff4a4 | 7.2 | lighter and more saturated |
| 524 | Fern Green Very Light | #c4cdac | 7.6 | a little darker and more muted |
| 164 | Forest Green Light | #c8d8b8 | 8.0 | more muted |
Shading DMC 12: lighter and darker green steps
4 lighter steps and 4 darker steps from the DMC green family, L* from 94 to 75.
| Step | Color | Name | L* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 lighter | 14 | Apple Green Pale | 94.1 |
| 3 lighter | 11 | Tender Green Light | 91.7 |
| 2 lighter | 15 | Apple Green | 90.2 |
| 1 lighter | 472 | Avocado Green Ultra Light | 88.1 |
| this color | 12 | Tender Green | 84.5 |
| 1 darker | 955 | Nile Green Light | 81.2 |
| 2 darker | 524 | Fern Green Very Light | 80.9 |
| 3 darker | 368 | Pistachio Green Light | 75.4 |
| 4 darker | 471 | Avocado Green Very Light | 74.6 |
Blends that stitch up close to DMC 12
One strand each of DMC 11 and DMC 471 models at ΔE 0.8, closer than any single DMC shade (best single: DMC 472, ΔE 3.4).
| Recipe (2 strands) | Blend hex | ΔE to DMC 12 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 × DMC 11 Tender Green Light + 1 × DMC 471 Avocado Green Very Light | #cad89b | 0.8 |
| 1 × DMC 165 Moss Green Very Light + 1 × DMC 368 Pistachio Green Light | #cfdd9e | 1.0 |
| 1 × DMC 17 Yellow Plum Light + 1 × DMC 564 Jade Very Light | #c9d895 | 1.1 |
Outline and backstitch colors for DMC 12
Ranked by WCAG contrast ratio against #cdd99a; 3:1 or more keeps a backstitch line readable.
How to use DMC 12
Substituting DMC 12 takes care: Anchor 259 is lighter and slightly more saturated (ΔE 3.8), and Madeira 1209 is darker and more muted (ΔE 6.8). Stitch a small test on your fabric before you commit a whole area.
DMC 12 is number 12 of 75 in the DMC green family, counted from the lightest. For shading, step up to DMC 472 Avocado Green Ultra Light and down to DMC 955 Nile Green Light. No other DMC shade sits within ΔE 3, so it is hard to confuse with the rest of the card.
DMC 12 glows on black or navy Aida (contrast 14.0:1 against black) but almost disappears on white fabric (1.5:1).
For a fuse-bead version of the same design, the nearest beads are Perler Celery (ΔE 5.3), Hama 101 Eucalyptus (ΔE 9.2) and Artkal S S52 Picasso (ΔE 9.2); beads come in fewer shades than DMC, so expect a close match at best.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Anchor equivalent of DMC 12?
Anchor 259 Loden Green Very Light is the closest Anchor match to DMC 12 Tender Green (ΔE 3.8, close). Runners-up: Anchor 1043 (ΔE 4.2) and Anchor 264 (ΔE 5.6).
What color is DMC 12?
DMC 12 Tender Green is a light, rich green in the green family: hex #cdd99a, RGB 205, 217, 154, L* 84.5. These are screen values for a dyed thread, so check a real skein in daylight.
What can I use instead of DMC 12?
Inside DMC, DMC 472 Avocado Green Ultra Light is nearest (ΔE 3.4). From other brands, Anchor 259 (ΔE 3.8) or Madeira 1209 (ΔE 6.8). A 1+1 blend of DMC 11 and DMC 471 models at ΔE 0.8.
What is DMC 12 in Perler beads?
Perler Celery (#bed4a6) is the nearest Perler bead at ΔE 5.3 (close). In Hama the nearest is Hama 101 Eucalyptus (ΔE 9.2).
What is the Madeira equivalent of DMC 12?
Madeira 1209 Yellow Green Ultra Very Light at ΔE 6.8 (similar), then Madeira 1604 at ΔE 7.6.
Related
Nearest DMC colors
- DMC 472 Avocado Green Ultra Light ΔE 3.4
- DMC 11 Tender Green Light ΔE 4.9
- DMC 15 Apple Green ΔE 5.3
- DMC 471 Avocado Green Very Light ΔE 7.1
- DMC 165 Moss Green Very Light ΔE 7.2
- DMC 524 Fern Green Very Light ΔE 7.6
DMC 12 in other brands
- Anchor 259 Loden Green Very Light ΔE 3.8
- Perler Celery ΔE 5.3
- Hama 101 Eucalyptus ΔE 9.2
- Artkal S S52 Picasso ΔE 9.2
- Nabbi N21 Light Yellow ΔE 9.6