DMC 989 — Forest Green

The Lighter Forest Green That Changes the Dynamic

Community debate in cross-stitch forums occasionally circles around what to call the various greens in the DMC range and whether the "forest green" label is applied correctly. DMC 989 simply named "Forest Green" (no "Medium" or "Dark" modifier) actually sits lighter in the value range than its two labeled companions — it reads brighter and slightly more vivid than DMC 988 (Medium Forest Green). This can be counterintuitive, but the naming convention across the DMC range doesn't always follow a strict modifier hierarchy, and 989's lighter character is real and practically important.

In the 987-988-989 progression, DMC 989 Forest Green is the lighter end — the value that handles highlighted foliage areas, the sunlit surfaces of leaves, the brighter elements in a green composition that need to feel illuminated rather than shaded. The slight increase in both value and saturation compared to 988 gives it a freshness that distinguishes it clearly from the mid-tones while keeping it firmly in the natural, earthy green family.

Sunny Leaves and Illuminated Foliage

Any leaf surface that faces the light source directly — a rose leaf's upper surface in direct sun, the forward-facing sections of a fern frond, the top of an ivy vine in open sunlight — is where DMC 989 earns its place. It's the thread that creates the impression of light falling on a plant, giving foliage the three-dimensional quality that makes botanical cross-stitch feel alive rather than flat.

For stitchers working on full-coverage botanical designs in the traditional style — where each plant element is rendered with naturalistic shading — the DMC 987-988-989 trio handles virtually the entire foliage range. Add DMC 955 (Light Nile Green) or DMC 966 (Medium Baby Green) for the lightest possible leaf tips and you've covered the complete value range from deep forest shadow to spring-fresh highlight.

Summer Garden and Nature Designs

The brighter, more vivid quality of DMC 989 makes it especially well-suited to summer-themed designs where foliage should feel full and abundant rather than subdued. Summer floral bouquets, garden scene designs, summer cottage sampler pieces — all of these benefit from this color's slightly higher energy compared to the deeper forest greens.

In Scandinavian-influenced cross-stitch, which has become increasingly popular in the FlossTube and design community, greens often need to be brighter and more saturated than in the traditional soft botanical palette. DMC 989 fits well in these bolder Scandinavian-style designs, where the stronger color is a design feature rather than a risk of over-saturation.

For stem and vine details in designs where foliage uses the full 987-988-989 progression, 989 often handles the lighter sections of stems — the sides facing the light source — creating the impression of cylindrical, dimensional stems that catch light rather than flat lines of color. This detail-level use consumes relatively little thread but contributes meaningfully to the finished result.