DMC 815 — Medium Garnet

Quick Conversion Table

Brand	Equivalent	Match	Buy links
Anchor	44	exact	Amazon → LoveCrafts →
Madeira	2502	close	Amazon → LoveCrafts →
Cosmo ⚠	245	close	Amazon → LoveCrafts →
Sullivans	45217	close	Amazon → LoveCrafts →
J&P Coats	3000	close	Amazon → LoveCrafts →
Dimensions	11814	close	Amazon → LoveCrafts →
Bucilla	815	close	Amazon → LoveCrafts →
Candamar	6019	close	Amazon → LoveCrafts →

The Vintage Red: Why Designers Keep Coming Back to DMC 815

Open any collection of antique embroidery samplers from the 1800s and you'll see a red that looks remarkably like DMC 815. Not the bright, punchy reds of modern designs — something quieter, deeper, more composed. Medium Garnet is the red that has already lived a little, and that maturity is precisely what makes it so valuable in contemporary stitching.

At hex #87071F, DMC 815 is a dark, muted red with noticeable brown warmth. It's past the point of being "red" in the way 666 or 321 are red. Instead, it inhabits the space where red becomes garnet, where vibrancy gives way to richness. In gemstone terms, think of the deep color inside a pomegranate seed or the shadowed heart of a dark ruby.

This muted quality is what makes 815 so versatile for designs with an aged or heritage aesthetic. It's the thread of choice for reproduction samplers, medieval-themed projects, and historical costumes. Where DMC 321 says "holiday cheer," 815 says "library with leather chairs." Both are beautiful. They just belong to different worlds.

Designers use 815 strategically in color palettes where a brighter red would compete with other elements. In a complex floral arrangement, for instance, 815 allows roses to coexist with other warm flowers without the reds screaming for attention. In autumn scenes, it provides the darkest maple leaf tones. And in heraldic or coat-of-arms designs, it contributes the gravity that those motifs require.

815 also works surprisingly well in modern minimalist designs. A single motif in 815 on white linen has an understated elegance — like a wax seal on a letter. It communicates intentionality without loudness, which aligns well with current design trends that value restraint.

For those building a comprehensive dark-red gradient, 815 is the darkest commonly used shade before you cross into true maroon territory. A natural progression runs: 666 (bright) to 321 (medium) to 498 (dark) to 815 (darkest garnet) to 902 (Very Dark Garnet, nearly maroon).

Substituting DMC 815 Medium Garnet

Garnet shades are subjective territory — one brand's garnet is another's burgundy — so pay attention to undertones when substituting.

Anchor 44 is an exact match and reliably captures the same muted, brown-leaning dark red. This is a confident substitution.

Madeira 2502 is also exact, with comparable depth and warmth. Madeira's garnet may appear very slightly more saturated due to the thread's inherent sheen, but the hue is right on target.

Cosmo 245 is close. As with other Cosmo red conversions, test before mixing with DMC. Cosmo's garnet shades can lean slightly more purple than DMC's warmer, browner interpretation.

Within the DMC range, 815 is often confused with its neighbors. Here's a comparison that might save you a trip back to the shop:

815 vs. 816 (Garnet): These are extremely similar. 816 is marginally brighter with slightly more visible red. In many patterns they could be interchanged without noticeable effect, but if your design calls for both, they do create a subtle shift.
815 vs. 498: 498 is more clearly red; 815 is more obviously garnet. 498 has more blue in its base; 815 has more brown.
815 vs. 902: 902 (Very Dark Garnet) is darker and crosses into maroon. Use 902 for the deepest shadows in garnet-family work.

If you're stitching a vintage-style piece and can't find 815, DMC 816 is the closest substitute within the same brand.

Reference quality

How We Validate This Color Record

Use this page as a reference card for DMC 815: the structured data, quick conversions, and long-form copy are all tied back to the same stored color record.

Methodology: This page renders DMC 815, 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 815 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 815 Medium Garnet record, hex value #87071F, 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 reds family before you commit to accents, shading, or background blends.

Watch for

! Screen previews are only reference aids. Medium Garnet 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 815 Medium Garnet: 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.