DMC 3802 to Madeira: Thread Conversion
The closest Madeira equivalent to DMC 3802 (Very Dark Antique Mauve) is Madeira 2606.
Close MatchHex #714149 · purples family
Only the DMC swatch is rendered as stored color data here. Compare the physical target skein before you assume a visual match.
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Conversion Notes
Madeira 2606 is also a close match for DMC 3802, giving you two confirmed exact cross-brand options for this hard-to-replicate antique mauve. Having exact matches from both Anchor and Madeira for a color this nuanced in its brown-purple-red balance is genuinely useful and relatively uncommon for a desaturated specialty color. The antique, aged-dye quality — the specific combination of muted purple, warm brown undertone, and quiet darkness that makes this thread appropriate for period-aesthetic designs where a vivid dark purple would look jarring — is preserved accurately in Madeira's version. Madeira's characteristic slight sheen adds a quality that actually suits the rich, jewel-like character of dark antique mauve: the sheen at this depth gives the thread a slightly lustrous quality that reads as period-appropriate velvet or aged ribbon rather than synthetic or garish. Either Anchor 1019 or Madeira 2606 can be used without any color adjustment or compromise in the antique, aged quality the thread conveys.
Reference quality
How We Validate This Match
This Madeira page is meant to help you shortlist a replacement quickly, then verify the physical skein before you mix brands in the same stitched area.
- Methodology
- This comparison uses the site's source-of-truth record for DMC 3802, the stored Madeira equivalent, and the saved close rating before rendering the page copy.
- Verification status
- Close cross-brand match. Treat it as a shortlist, not proof that the physical threads will be visually identical under every fabric and light condition.
- Source basis
- Published cross-brand floss chart mapping. Use it as a shortlist, then confirm with physical thread because sheen and dye lots still matter.
- Last reviewed
- 2026-04-20
- Best use
- Close and approximate matches work best for replacements, backups, or whole-project brand swaps after you stitch a small sample on the target fabric.
Decision guide
When to trust DMC 3802 to Madeira 2606
This page is strongest as a decision aid, not as a guarantee that two branded skeins will vanish into each other without testing.
Best for
- + Replacing missing floss when DMC 3802 is unavailable and Madeira 2606 is good enough after a stitched sample check.
- + Shortlisting a Madeira substitute before you buy skeins, especially if your project can tolerate small differences in sheen or dye lot.
- + Comparing this Madeira candidate against the other conversions and nearby DMC shades linked from the page before you commit to a full swap.
Watch for
- ! Close matches are not safe to assume interchangeable in focal areas without a physical test on your fabric.
- ! Brand sheen, strand thickness, and project lighting can make DMC 3802 and Madeira 2606 look further apart than the stored match rating suggests.
- ! If the design depends on smooth gradients or skin-tone transitions, compare this swap against the neighboring DMC shades before you substitute a large block.
Before you commit
- Compare DMC 3802 and Madeira 2606: lay the physical skeins together in daylight before you mix brands in the same stitched area.
- Test on your project fabric: stitch a small sample so fabric color and stitch density reveal whether the match still holds at full coverage.
- Keep a fallback ready: if the swap feels off, use the linked related DMC shades or another brand conversion instead of forcing the closest stored match.
DMC 3802 to Madeira FAQ
These answers are the same statements published in this page's FAQ structured data.
What is the Madeira equivalent of DMC 3802?+
The closest Madeira equivalent to DMC 3802 (Very Dark Antique Mauve) is Madeira 2606. This is a close match.
Is the DMC 3802 to Madeira conversion exact?+
The conversion from DMC 3802 (Very Dark Antique Mauve) to Madeira 2606 is rated as a close match. Thread colors vary slightly between brands, so compare physical thread in daylight before stitching a large area.
Can I mix DMC 3802 and Madeira 2606 in the same project?+
You can use DMC 3802 and Madeira 2606 together when the close match is acceptable for your project, but always test them side by side on your fabric first because sheen and dye lots can create visible differences.
Other Conversions for DMC 3802
Similar DMC Colors
Shades closest to DMC 3802 — handy if Madeira 2606 isn't quite right:
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