Anchor 850 Blue Mist Medium
On screen, Anchor 850 Blue Mist Medium reads as a medium gray (#7a8b8c). DMC has no exact twin: its nearest is DMC 3768 Gray Green Dark at ΔE 6.2 (similar), while Madeira offers Madeira 1111 Misty Blue Light at ΔE 7.6 (similar).
Updated
Anchor stranded cotton
Anchor 850 Blue Mist Medium
#7a8b8c · RGB 122, 139, 140
Closest to Anchor 850 in other brands
- DMC 3768 Gray Green Dark ΔE 6.2 similar
- Madeira 1111 Misty Blue Light ΔE 7.6 similar
- Perler Grey ΔE 7.4 similar
- Hama 17 Grey ΔE 5.7 close
- Artkal S S159 Oslo Gray ΔE 6.0 close
- Nabbi N08 Ash ΔE 9.8 similar
Anchor 850 color values
| Code | 850 |
|---|---|
| Name | Blue Mist Medium |
| Hex (screen) | #7a8b8c |
| RGB | 122, 139, 140 |
| CIELAB (D65) | L* 56.6, a* -5.9, b* -2.6 |
| HSL | 183°, 7 %, 51 % |
| Color family | Gray, 16 of 21 lightest first |
| Lightness | medium (L* 56.6) |
| Nearest DMC | DMC 3768 Gray Green Dark, ΔE 6.2 |
Anchor 850 equivalents in other brands
None of these 14 picks is a perfect twin of Anchor 850: the best is DMC 3768 at ΔE 6.2.
| Brand | Color | Name | ΔE2000 | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMC | 3768 | Gray Green Dark | 6.2 | similar |
| DMC | 169 | Pewter Light | 7.8 | similar |
| DMC | 414 | Steel Gray Dark | 7.8 | similar |
| Madeira | 1111 | Misty Blue Light | 7.6 | similar |
| Madeira | 2508 | Misty Green Medium | 9.3 | similar |
| Madeira | 1702 | Sea Foam Green | 9.9 | similar |
| Perler | Grey | code 80-19017 | 7.4 | similar |
| Perler | Pewter | code 80-15206 | 7.9 | similar |
| Hama | 17 | Grey | 5.7 | close |
| Hama | 113 | Aqua | 10.7 | loose |
| Artkal S | S159 | Oslo Gray | 6.0 | close |
| Artkal S | S07 | Gray | 8.9 | similar |
| Nabbi | N08 | Ash | 9.8 | similar |
| Nabbi | N06 | Tan | 19.8 | loose |
Anchor shades closest to Anchor 850
No other Anchor color comes within ΔE 3 of Anchor 850; the nearest, Anchor 920 Denim Light, sits at ΔE 7.3.
| Color | Name | Hex | ΔE2000 | Lighter or darker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 920 | Denim Light | #728d9e | 7.3 | more saturated |
| 1062 | Peacock Blue | #6392a1 | 8.5 | more saturated |
| 399 | Gray Medium Light | #929293 | 8.6 | a little lighter and slightly more muted |
| 849 | Blue Mist Medium Light | #9caaab | 10.3 | lighter |
| 343 | Slate Blue | #8ca2b4 | 10.9 | lighter and slightly more saturated |
| 1033 | Antique Blue Light | #8da1b4 | 11.3 | lighter and more saturated |
| 1064 | Wedgewood Light | #4b8297 | 11.4 | darker and more saturated |
| 779 | Blue Mist Medium Dark | #4d787b | 11.6 | darker and more saturated |
Shading Anchor 850: lighter and darker gray steps
4 lighter steps and 4 darker steps from the Anchor gray family, L* from 76 to 23.
| Step | Color | Name | L* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 lighter | 848 | Blue Mist | 76.0 |
| 3 lighter | 398 | Gray | 71.7 |
| 2 lighter | 849 | Blue Mist Medium Light | 68.6 |
| 1 lighter | 399 | Gray Medium Light | 60.6 |
| this color | 850 | Blue Mist Medium | 56.6 |
| 1 darker | 235 | Charcoal Gray Medium | 47.7 |
| 2 darker | 400 | Gray Medium | 36.9 |
| 3 darker | 401 | Gray Dark | 25.1 |
| 4 darker | 1041 | Stone Gray Very Dark | 22.9 |
Blends that stitch up close to Anchor 850
One strand each of Anchor 1062 and Anchor 1040 models at ΔE 0.9, closer than any single Anchor shade (best single: Anchor 920, ΔE 7.3).
| Recipe (2 strands) | Blend hex | ΔE to Anchor 850 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 × Anchor 1062 Peacock Blue + 1 × Anchor 1040 Pewter Medium | #778a8b | 0.9 |
| 1 × Anchor 399 Gray Medium Light + 1 × Anchor 779 Blue Mist Medium Dark | #768688 | 1.9 |
| 1 × Anchor 977 Sea Blue Medium + 1 × Anchor 859 Laurel Green | #788f91 | 2.3 |
Outline and backstitch colors for Anchor 850
Ranked by WCAG contrast ratio against #7a8b8c; 3:1 or more keeps a backstitch line readable.
| Role | Color | Name | Contrast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonal outline (gray) | 236 | Charcoal Gray Dark | 3.5:1 |
| Strongest contrast | 403 | Black | 5.9:1 |
| Softer gray or brown line | 382 | Fudge Dark | 4.4:1 |
Stitching with Anchor 850
Substituting Anchor 850 takes care: DMC 3768 is darker and slightly more saturated (ΔE 6.2), and Madeira 1111 is a little lighter and more saturated (ΔE 7.6). Stitch a small test on your fabric before you commit a whole area.
Anchor 850 is number 16 of 21 in the Anchor gray family, counted from the lightest. For shading, step up to Anchor 399 Gray Medium Light and down to Anchor 235 Charcoal Gray Medium. No other Anchor shade sits within ΔE 3, so it is hard to confuse with the rest of the card.
Anchor 850 glows on black or navy Aida (contrast 5.9:1 against black) but turns subtle on white fabric (3.6:1).
For a fuse-bead version of the same design, the nearest beads are Perler Grey (ΔE 7.4), Hama 17 Grey (ΔE 5.7) and Artkal S S159 Oslo Gray (ΔE 6.0); beads come in fewer shades than Anchor, so expect a close match at best.
Frequently asked questions
What is the DMC equivalent of Anchor 850?
DMC 3768 Gray Green Dark is the closest DMC match to Anchor 850 Blue Mist Medium (ΔE 6.2, similar). Runners-up: DMC 169 (ΔE 7.8) and DMC 414 (ΔE 7.8).
What color is Anchor 850?
Anchor 850 Blue Mist Medium is a medium gray in the gray family: hex #7a8b8c, RGB 122, 139, 140, L* 56.6. These are screen values for a dyed thread, so check a real skein in daylight.
What can I use instead of Anchor 850?
Inside Anchor, Anchor 920 Denim Light is nearest (ΔE 7.3). From other brands, DMC 3768 (ΔE 6.2) or Madeira 1111 (ΔE 7.6). A 1+1 blend of Anchor 1062 and Anchor 1040 models at ΔE 0.9.
What is Anchor 850 in Perler beads?
Perler Grey (#909497) is the nearest Perler bead at ΔE 7.4 (similar). In Hama the nearest is Hama 17 Grey (ΔE 5.7).
What is the Madeira equivalent of Anchor 850?
Madeira 1111 Misty Blue Light at ΔE 7.6 (similar), then Madeira 2508 at ΔE 9.3.
Related
Nearest Anchor colors
- Anchor 1062 Peacock Blue ΔE 8.5
- Anchor 779 Blue Mist Medium Dark ΔE 11.6
Anchor 850 in other brands
- DMC 3768 Gray Green Dark ΔE 6.2
- Madeira 1111 Misty Blue Light ΔE 7.6
- Perler Grey ΔE 7.4
- Hama 17 Grey ΔE 5.7
- Artkal S S159 Oslo Gray ΔE 6.0
- Nabbi N08 Ash ΔE 9.8