DMC 642 Beige Gray Dark
On screen, DMC 642 Beige Gray Dark reads as a medium, soft brown (#a49878). Anchor has no exact twin: its nearest is Anchor 899 Tawny Light at ΔE 5.8 (close), while Madeira offers Madeira 2110 Avocado Light at ΔE 6.5 (similar).
Updated
DMC stranded cotton
DMC 642 Beige Gray Dark
#a49878 · RGB 164, 152, 120
Closest to DMC 642 in other brands
- Anchor 899 Tawny Light ΔE 5.8 close
- Madeira 2110 Avocado Light ΔE 6.5 similar
- Perler Mocha ΔE 9.4 similar
- Hama 110 Matcha ΔE 11.2 loose
- Artkal S S113 Khaki ΔE 7.2 similar
- Nabbi N06 Tan ΔE 6.9 similar
DMC 642 color values
| Code | 642 |
|---|---|
| Name | Beige Gray Dark |
| Hex (screen) | #a49878 |
| RGB | 164, 152, 120 |
| CIELAB (D65) | L* 63.1, a* -0.8, b* 18.5 |
| HSL | 44°, 19 %, 56 % |
| Color family | Brown, 5 of 55 lightest first |
| Lightness | medium (L* 63.1) |
| DMC color card | row 18-07 |
| Nearest Anchor | Anchor 899 Tawny Light, ΔE 5.8 |
DMC 642 equivalents in other brands
None of these 14 picks is a perfect twin of DMC 642: the best is Anchor 899 at ΔE 5.8.
| Brand | Color | Name | ΔE2000 | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchor | 899 | Tawny Light | 5.8 | close |
| Anchor | 392 | Linen Medium | 6.6 | similar |
| Anchor | 853 | Turf Light | 7.7 | similar |
| Madeira | 2110 | Avocado Light | 6.5 | similar |
| Madeira | 1902 | Beige Gray Medium | 7.9 | similar |
| Madeira | 1510 | Fern Green Very Light | 7.9 | similar |
| Perler | Mocha | code 80-15239 | 9.4 | similar |
| Perler | Tan | code 80-19035 | 9.4 | similar |
| Hama | 110 | Matcha | 11.2 | loose |
| Hama | 75 | Tan | 12.5 | loose |
| Artkal S | S113 | Khaki | 7.2 | similar |
| Artkal S | S114 | Light Greengray | 7.4 | similar |
| Nabbi | N06 | Tan | 6.9 | similar |
| Nabbi | N08 | Ash | 9.0 | similar |
DMC shades closest to DMC 642
No other DMC color comes within ΔE 3 of DMC 642; the nearest, DMC 3023 Brown Gray Light, sits at ΔE 7.1.
| Color | Name | Hex | ΔE2000 | Lighter or darker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3023 | Brown Gray Light | #b1aa97 | 7.1 | lighter and more muted |
| 841 | Beige Brown Light | #b69b7e | 7.4 | a little lighter |
| 3022 | Brown Gray Medium | #8e9078 | 7.5 | a little darker and slightly more muted |
| 3032 | Mocha Brown Medium | #b39f8b | 7.6 | a little lighter and slightly more muted |
| 370 | Mustard Medium | #b89d64 | 7.7 | a little lighter and more saturated |
| 831 | Golden Olive Medium | #aa8f56 | 7.9 | a little darker and more saturated |
| 371 | Mustard | #bfa671 | 7.9 | lighter and more saturated |
| 522 | Fern Green | #969e7e | 8.7 | practically the same in lightness and saturation |
Shading DMC 642: lighter and darker brown steps
3 lighter steps and 4 darker steps from the DMC brown family, L* from 65 to 52.
| Step | Color | Name | L* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 lighter | 3778 | Terra Cotta Light | 65.0 |
| 2 lighter | 3045 | Yellow Beige Dark | 64.6 |
| 1 lighter | 436 | Tan | 64.4 |
| this color | 642 | Beige Gray Dark | 63.1 |
| 1 darker | 831 | Golden Olive Medium | 60.7 |
| 2 darker | 3022 | Brown Gray Medium | 59.0 |
| 3 darker | 3863 | Mocha Beige Medium | 57.0 |
| 4 darker | 640 | Beige Gray Very Dark | 51.9 |
Blends that stitch up close to DMC 642
One strand each of DMC 3032 and DMC 3011 models at ΔE 1.1, closer than any single DMC shade (best single: DMC 3023, ΔE 7.1).
| Recipe (2 strands) | Blend hex | ΔE to DMC 642 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 × DMC 3032 Mocha Brown Medium + 1 × DMC 3011 Khaki Green Dark | #a09575 | 1.1 |
| 1 × DMC 3863 Mocha Beige Medium + 1 × DMC 523 Fern Green Light | #a89c7e | 1.5 |
| 1 × DMC 841 Beige Brown Light + 1 × DMC 3052 Green Gray Medium | #a19774 | 1.6 |
Outline and backstitch colors for DMC 642
Ranked by WCAG contrast ratio against #a49878; 3:1 or more keeps a backstitch line readable.
| Role | Color | Name | Contrast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonal outline (brown) | 938 | Coffee Brown Ultra Dark | 5.4:1 |
| Strongest contrast | 310 | Black | 7.3:1 |
| Softer gray or brown line | 898 | Coffee Brown Very Dark | 4.5:1 |
Stitching with DMC 642
Substituting DMC 642 takes care: Anchor 899 is a little lighter (ΔE 5.8), and Madeira 2110 is a little lighter and more saturated (ΔE 6.5). Stitch a small test on your fabric before you commit a whole area.
DMC 642 is number 5 of 55 in the DMC brown family, counted from the lightest. For shading, step up to DMC 436 Tan and down to DMC 831 Golden Olive Medium. No other DMC shade sits within ΔE 3, so it is hard to confuse with the rest of the card.
DMC 642 glows on black or navy Aida (contrast 7.3:1 against black) but turns subtle on white fabric (2.9:1).
For a fuse-bead version of the same design, the nearest beads are Perler Mocha (ΔE 9.4), Hama 110 Matcha (ΔE 11.2) and Artkal S S113 Khaki (ΔE 7.2); beads come in fewer shades than DMC, so expect a similar shade at best.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Anchor equivalent of DMC 642?
Anchor 899 Tawny Light is the closest Anchor match to DMC 642 Beige Gray Dark (ΔE 5.8, close). Runners-up: Anchor 392 (ΔE 6.6) and Anchor 853 (ΔE 7.7).
What color is DMC 642?
DMC 642 Beige Gray Dark is a medium, soft brown in the brown family: hex #a49878, RGB 164, 152, 120, L* 63.1. These are screen values for a dyed thread, so check a real skein in daylight.
What can I use instead of DMC 642?
Inside DMC, DMC 3023 Brown Gray Light is nearest (ΔE 7.1). From other brands, Anchor 899 (ΔE 5.8) or Madeira 2110 (ΔE 6.5). A 1+1 blend of DMC 3032 and DMC 3011 models at ΔE 1.1.
What is DMC 642 in Perler beads?
Perler Mocha (#c8b693) is the nearest Perler bead at ΔE 9.4 (similar). In Hama the nearest is Hama 110 Matcha (ΔE 11.2).
What is the Madeira equivalent of DMC 642?
Madeira 2110 Avocado Light at ΔE 6.5 (similar), then Madeira 1902 at ΔE 7.9.
Related
Nearest DMC colors
- DMC 3023 Brown Gray Light ΔE 7.1
- DMC 3032 Mocha Brown Medium ΔE 7.6
DMC 642 in other brands
- Anchor 899 Tawny Light ΔE 5.8
- Perler Mocha ΔE 9.4
- Hama 110 Matcha ΔE 11.2
- Artkal S S113 Khaki ΔE 7.2
- Nabbi N06 Tan ΔE 6.9