Anchor 398 Gray
Anchor 398 Gray (#afb0ad) is a light gray. The closest DMC thread is DMC 318 Steel Gray Light, very close at ΔE 2.3; in Madeira, use Madeira 1709 Blue Gray Very Light (ΔE 4.6, close).
Updated
Anchor stranded cotton
Anchor 398 Gray
#afb0ad · RGB 175, 176, 173
Closest to Anchor 398 in other brands
- DMC 318 Steel Gray Light ΔE 2.3 very close
- Madeira 1709 Blue Gray Very Light ΔE 4.6 close
- Perler Light Grey ΔE 3.7 close
- Hama 70 Light Grey ΔE 8.6 similar
- Artkal S S79 Light Gray ΔE 2.9 very close
- Nabbi N10 Light Grey ΔE 9.3 similar
Anchor 398 color values
| Code | 398 |
|---|---|
| Name | Gray |
| Hex (screen) | #afb0ad |
| RGB | 175, 176, 173 |
| CIELAB (D65) | L* 71.7, a* -0.9, b* 1.4 |
| HSL | 80°, 2 %, 68 % |
| Color family | Gray, 12 of 21 lightest first |
| Lightness | light (L* 71.7) |
| Nearest DMC | DMC 318 Steel Gray Light, ΔE 2.3 |
Anchor 398 equivalents in other brands
None of these 14 picks is a perfect twin of Anchor 398: the best is DMC 318 at ΔE 2.3.
| Brand | Color | Name | ΔE2000 | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMC | 318 | Steel Gray Light | 2.3 | very close |
| DMC | 04 | Tin Dark | 3.6 | close |
| DMC | 03 | Tin Medium | 4.3 | close |
| Madeira | 1709 | Blue Gray Very Light | 4.6 | close |
| Madeira | 1814 | Beaver Gray Very Light | 6.3 | similar |
| Madeira | 2611 | Dusty Violet Light | 6.5 | similar |
| Perler | Light Grey | code 80-15181 | 3.7 | close |
| Perler | Pewter | code 80-15206 | 7.7 | similar |
| Hama | 70 | Light Grey | 8.6 | similar |
| Hama | 77 | Cloudy White | 8.9 | similar |
| Artkal S | S79 | Light Gray | 2.9 | very close |
| Artkal S | S78 | Ash Grey | 5.3 | close |
| Nabbi | N10 | Light Grey | 9.3 | similar |
| Nabbi | N08 | Ash | 12.4 | loose |
Anchor shades closest to Anchor 398
No other Anchor color comes within ΔE 3 of Anchor 398; the nearest, Anchor 849 Blue Mist Medium Light, sits at ΔE 6.3.
| Color | Name | Hex | ΔE2000 | Lighter or darker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 849 | Blue Mist Medium Light | #9caaab | 6.3 | a little darker and slightly more saturated |
| 397 | Gray Light | #c5c1b3 | 6.9 | lighter and slightly more saturated |
| 848 | Blue Mist | #afbfba | 7.5 | a little lighter and slightly more saturated |
| 900 | Pewter Light | #a9a995 | 7.8 | a little darker and more saturated |
| 231 | Rose Gray Light | #c0b0aa | 8.1 | slightly more saturated |
| 234 | Charcoal Gray Light | #cdd0cd | 8.2 | lighter |
| 274 | Blue Mist Light | #c7d1ca | 9.3 | lighter and slightly more saturated |
| 399 | Gray Medium Light | #929293 | 9.3 | darker |
Shading Anchor 398: lighter and darker gray steps
4 lighter steps and 4 darker steps from the Anchor gray family, L* from 83 to 57.
| Step | Color | Name | L* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 lighter | 234 | Charcoal Gray Light | 83.2 |
| 3 lighter | 397 | Gray Light | 78.0 |
| 2 lighter | 848 | Blue Mist | 76.0 |
| 1 lighter | 231 | Rose Gray Light | 73.0 |
| this color | 398 | Gray | 71.7 |
| 1 darker | 849 | Blue Mist Medium Light | 68.6 |
| 2 darker | 232 | Rose Gray Medium | 63.9 |
| 3 darker | 399 | Gray Medium Light | 60.6 |
| 4 darker | 850 | Blue Mist Medium | 56.6 |
Blends that stitch up close to Anchor 398
One strand each of Anchor 1032 and Anchor 899 models at ΔE 0.0, closer than any single Anchor shade (best single: Anchor 849, ΔE 6.3).
| Recipe (2 strands) | Blend hex | ΔE to Anchor 398 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 × Anchor 1032 Antique Blue Very Light + 1 × Anchor 899 Tawny Light | #afb0ad | 0.0 |
| 1 × Anchor 391 Linen + 1 × Anchor 343 Slate Blue | #afafaa | 1.1 |
| 1 × Anchor 391 Linen + 1 × Anchor 1033 Antique Blue Light | #afaeaa | 1.2 |
Outline and backstitch colors for Anchor 398
Ranked by WCAG contrast ratio against #afb0ad; 3:1 or more keeps a backstitch line readable.
| Role | Color | Name | Contrast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonal outline (gray) | 236 | Charcoal Gray Dark | 5.8:1 |
| Strongest contrast | 403 | Black | 9.6:1 |
| Softer gray or brown line | 357 | Mocha Dark | 4.6:1 |
Working with Anchor 398
DMC 318 is the practical DMC substitute for Anchor 398. It is a little darker, a ΔE of 2.3 that shows only side by side, so keep to one brand inside a single shaded area.
Anchor 398 is number 12 of 21 in the Anchor gray family, counted from the lightest. For shading, step up to Anchor 231 Rose Gray Light and down to Anchor 849 Blue Mist Medium Light. No other Anchor shade sits within ΔE 3, so it is hard to confuse with the rest of the card.
Anchor 398 glows on black or navy Aida (contrast 9.6:1 against black) but turns subtle on white fabric (2.2:1).
For a fuse-bead version of the same design, the nearest beads are Perler Light Grey (ΔE 3.7), Hama 70 Light Grey (ΔE 8.6) and Artkal S S79 Light Gray (ΔE 2.9); at least one of them is a very close match.
Frequently asked questions
What is the DMC equivalent of Anchor 398?
DMC 318 Steel Gray Light is the closest DMC match to Anchor 398 Gray (ΔE 2.3, very close). Runners-up: DMC 04 (ΔE 3.6) and DMC 03 (ΔE 4.3).
What color is Anchor 398?
Anchor 398 Gray is a light gray in the gray family: hex #afb0ad, RGB 175, 176, 173, L* 71.7. These are screen values for a dyed thread, so check a real skein in daylight.
What can I use instead of Anchor 398?
Inside Anchor, Anchor 849 Blue Mist Medium Light is nearest (ΔE 6.3). From other brands, DMC 318 (ΔE 2.3) or Madeira 1709 (ΔE 4.6). A 1+1 blend of Anchor 1032 and Anchor 899 models at ΔE 0.0.
What is Anchor 398 in Perler beads?
Perler Light Grey (#b3bab8) is the nearest Perler bead at ΔE 3.7 (close). In Hama the nearest is Hama 70 Light Grey (ΔE 8.6).
What is the Madeira equivalent of Anchor 398?
Madeira 1709 Blue Gray Very Light at ΔE 4.6 (close), then Madeira 1814 at ΔE 6.3.
Related
Nearest Anchor colors
- Anchor 848 Blue Mist ΔE 7.5
- Anchor 900 Pewter Light ΔE 7.8
Anchor 398 in other brands
- Madeira 1709 Blue Gray Very Light ΔE 4.6
- Perler Light Grey ΔE 3.7
- Hama 70 Light Grey ΔE 8.6
- Artkal S S79 Light Gray ΔE 2.9
- Nabbi N10 Light Grey ΔE 9.3