DMC 3801 — Very Dark Melon

Quick Conversion Table

Brand	Equivalent	Match	Buy links
Anchor	1098	close	Amazon → LoveCrafts →
Madeira	0411	close	Amazon → LoveCrafts →
Cosmo ⚠	206	close	Amazon → LoveCrafts →
Sullivans	45398	close	Amazon → LoveCrafts →
J&P Coats	3012	close	Amazon → LoveCrafts →
Dimensions	12334	close	Amazon → LoveCrafts →
Candamar	6261	close	Amazon → LoveCrafts →

DMC 3801 Very Dark Melon: A Punchy Pink That Demands Attention

If your stash has a boring corner, DMC 3801 is not in it. This is a saturated, electric pink with a warm red undertone that practically vibrates on fabric. It sits at the intersection of hot pink and watermelon red, landing in territory that few other DMC shades dare to occupy. Think of it as the thread you reach for when you want a design element to jump right off the cloth.

DMC actually lists 3801 among its most popular numbers, and there is a good reason for that. It fills a gap that reds and pinks alone cannot cover. Too cool and it would be fuchsia; too warm and it would become a standard red. Instead, it holds a charged midpoint that reads as distinctly modern. Pattern designers love it for stylized florals, geometric samplers, and pop-art-inspired pieces.

Color Character and Fabric Behavior

On white or off-white Aida, 3801 is unmistakably bold. On darker linens or hand-dyed fabrics, it retains its punch rather than fading into the background the way lighter pinks tend to. This makes it an especially good pick for projects on medium-toned or grey fabrics where softer pinks would get lost.

One practical note: because 3801 is so intense, it can visually dominate neighboring stitches. If you are using it alongside pastels, consider inserting a neutral buffer (a row of ecru or light grey) to keep the composition balanced. On the other hand, paired with black or very dark navy, it creates striking graphic contrast reminiscent of neon signage.

Seasonal and Thematic Uses

This shade naturally gravitates toward summer and tropical motifs. It is a dead ringer for the flesh of a ripe watermelon and appears in countless fruit-themed patterns. Beyond food, it works beautifully for:

Tropical birds like flamingos and scarlet macaws
Summer cocktail and beach-themed samplers
Valentine hearts where standard red feels too expected
Modern floral wreaths and botanical illustrations
Pop culture and fandom designs that need energetic color

If you enjoy stitching bold, contemporary designs rather than traditional samplers, keep an extra skein of 3801 on hand. It has a habit of showing up on supply lists when you least expect it.

Substituting DMC 3801: Watch the Undertone

All four major-brand conversions for DMC 3801 are rated as close rather than exact matches, which tells you something about how unique this color is. That punchy melon-pink sits in a narrow gap that other thread lines do not always replicate precisely.

Anchor 1098 is the nearest option in the Anchor range. It captures the overall vibrancy but tends to lean slightly more toward true red, losing a touch of that watermelon-pink character. If your project depends on the pink reading of 3801, stitch a test swatch before committing.

Madeira 0411 skews marginally cooler in some dye lots. Side by side, the difference is visible, though in a finished project surrounded by other colors, most viewers would not notice. If you are mixing brands within the same project, place the Madeira threads in a different section of the design rather than immediately adjacent to DMC 3801.

Cosmo 206 is a reasonable alternative, though Cosmo threads have a slightly different sheen than DMC stranded cotton. This changes how the color catches light and can make it look a shade darker on fabric. Test on your actual fabric before buying full quantities.

Sullivans 45398 is another close match. Sullivans thread tends to be slightly thicker in the hand, so your coverage may look denser, which can affect the perceived color. Keep stitch tension consistent if blending brands.

Regardless of which substitute you choose, compare threads in natural daylight rather than under incandescent or LED bulbs, which can exaggerate or flatten the warm pink tones.

Reference quality

How We Validate This Color Record

Use this page as a reference card for DMC 3801: the structured data, quick conversions, and long-form copy are all tied back to the same stored color record.

Methodology: This page renders DMC 3801, its hex value, and every brand equivalent from the site's source-of-truth color record, then checks long-form body copy against those same stored fields.
Verification status: Source-field checked. The page content is audited against the stored DMC number, brand equivalents, and match-quality labels before publishing.
Last reviewed: 2026-04-20
Approximation warning: Screen hex values, thread photos, and cross-brand conversions are reference aids. Dye lots, thread sheen, and fabric color can still shift the result in hand.

Read the Stitchies methodology

Decision guide

When to use the DMC 3801 reference page

This page should help you decide faster between palette planning, brand substitution, and shade comparison without turning the color record into a thin lookup page.

Best for

+ Palette planning when you want the stored DMC 3801 Very Dark Melon record, hex value #E74967, and linked brand equivalents in one place.
+ Checking the quickest cross-brand shortlist before you buy floss, compare stash substitutes, or route into a more specific conversion page.
+ Finding nearby shades in the pinks family before you commit to accents, shading, or background blends.

Watch for

! Screen previews are only reference aids. Very Dark Melon can shift on real fabric because thread sheen, stitch coverage, and room lighting change how the color reads.
! A stored equivalent is still a shortlist, not a guarantee that two brands will disappear into each other in the same stitched motif.
! Older charts, discontinued kit floss, and dye-lot variation can all introduce small but visible differences that the page cannot detect for you.

Before you commit

Confirm the role of DMC 3801 Very Dark Melon: decide whether you need an exact hero shade, a forgiving background, or a rough stash substitute.
Compare on project fabric: view the skein or stitched sample on the same fabric count and color you will actually use.
Use the linked conversion pages next: open the brand-specific pages when you need match-quality caveats before substituting away from the DMC reference.

DMC 3801 FAQ

These questions appear on the page so the FAQ schema stays aligned with what visitors can actually read.

What is the Anchor equivalent of DMC 3801?+

The closest Anchor equivalent to DMC 3801 (Very Dark Melon) is Anchor 1098. This is a close match.

What color is DMC 3801?+

DMC 3801 is called "Very Dark Melon" and has a hex color value of #E74967. It belongs to the pinks color family.

What is the Madeira equivalent of DMC 3801?+

The closest Madeira equivalent to DMC 3801 (Very Dark Melon) is Madeira 0411. This is a close match.

Where DMC 3801 Really Shines

Because Very Dark Melon is bold without being garish, it appears in a wide range of modern cross-stitch patterns. Here are some project categories where it earns its keep:

Watermelon and fruit slices — This is practically the definitive watermelon-flesh thread. Pair it with DMC 701 or 699 for the rind.
Flamingo and tropical bird designs — Use 3801 for deeper feather shading and lighter pinks like 3708 for highlights.
Pixel art and retro gaming — Its clean saturation reads well in blocky, low-count designs on larger-gauge Aida.
Modern typography samplers — When a quote or word needs to pop, 3801 makes bold lettering that stands out without resorting to basic red.

For full-coverage pieces, you may need more skeins than expected. Because the color is so saturated, thin coverage or visible fabric beneath the stitches can look uneven. Use two full strands on 14-count Aida for best results, and consider a laying tool to keep strands flat and the color smooth.