DMC 157 Cornflower Blue Very Light
On screen, DMC 157 Cornflower Blue Very Light reads as a light, muted blue (#bbc3d9). Anchor has no exact twin: its nearest is Anchor 120 Blueberry Light at ΔE 3.8 (close), while Madeira offers Madeira 901 Blue Violet Very Light at ΔE 6.3 (similar).
Updated
DMC stranded cotton
DMC 157 Cornflower Blue Very Light
#bbc3d9 · RGB 187, 195, 217
Closest to DMC 157 in other brands
- Anchor 120 Blueberry Light ΔE 3.8 close
- Madeira 901 Blue Violet Very Light ΔE 6.3 similar
- Perler Light Grey ΔE 11.4 loose
- Hama 57 Blue (Glow in the Dark) ΔE 3.9 close
- Artkal S S153 Pale Lilac ΔE 3.0 close
- Nabbi N28 Sky ΔE 8.3 similar
DMC 157 color values
| Code | 157 |
|---|---|
| Name | Cornflower Blue Very Light |
| Hex (screen) | #bbc3d9 |
| RGB | 187, 195, 217 |
| CIELAB (D65) | L* 78.8, a* 1.6, b* -11.9 |
| HSL | 224°, 28 %, 79 % |
| Color family | Blue, 5 of 52 lightest first |
| Lightness | light (L* 78.8) |
| DMC color card | row 05-19 |
| Nearest Anchor | Anchor 120 Blueberry Light, ΔE 3.8 |
DMC 157 equivalents in other brands
None of these 14 picks is a perfect twin of DMC 157: the best is Anchor 120 at ΔE 3.8.
| Brand | Color | Name | ΔE2000 | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchor | 120 | Blueberry Light | 3.8 | close |
| Anchor | 117 | Thistle Light | 8.3 | similar |
| Anchor | 1032 | Antique Blue Very Light | 8.5 | similar |
| Madeira | 901 | Blue Violet Very Light | 6.3 | similar |
| Madeira | 1708 | Blue Gray Light | 7.3 | similar |
| Madeira | 1804 | Pearl Gray Very Light | 9.3 | similar |
| Perler | Light Grey | code 80-15181 | 11.4 | loose |
| Perler | Mist | code 80-15215 | 12.0 | loose |
| Hama | 57 | Blue (Glow in the Dark) | 3.9 | close |
| Hama | 70 | Light Grey | 7.3 | similar |
| Artkal S | S153 | Pale Lilac | 3.0 | close |
| Artkal S | S136 | Summer Rain | 6.0 | similar |
| Nabbi | N28 | Sky | 8.3 | similar |
| Nabbi | N10 | Light Grey | 10.9 | loose |
DMC shades closest to DMC 157
1 other DMC color within ΔE 3 of DMC 157, led by DMC 341 Blue Violet Light at ΔE 3.0.
| Color | Name | Hex | ΔE2000 | Lighter or darker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 341 | Blue Violet Light | #b7bfdd | 3.0 | slightly more saturated |
| 3840 | Lavender Blue Light | #b0c0da | 3.2 | a little darker and slightly more saturated |
| 800 | Delft Blue Pale | #c0ccde | 3.5 | a little lighter |
| 159 | Blue Gray Light | #c7cad7 | 4.1 | a little lighter and slightly more muted |
| 3747 | Blue Violet Very Light | #d3d7ed | 5.3 | lighter |
| 3752 | Antique Blue Very Light | #c7d1db | 6.6 | a little lighter and slightly more muted |
| 156 | Blue Violet Medium Light | #a3aed1 | 7.0 | darker and more saturated |
| 932 | Antique Blue Light | #a2b5c6 | 7.3 | darker |
Shading DMC 157: lighter and darker blue steps
4 lighter steps and 4 darker steps from the DMC blue family, L* from 86 to 71.
| Step | Color | Name | L* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 lighter | 827 | Blue Very Light | 86.3 |
| 3 lighter | 3747 | Blue Violet Very Light | 86.3 |
| 2 lighter | 3325 | Baby Blue Light | 82.9 |
| 1 lighter | 800 | Delft Blue Pale | 81.7 |
| this color | 157 | Cornflower Blue Very Light | 78.8 |
| 1 darker | 341 | Blue Violet Light | 77.6 |
| 2 darker | 3840 | Lavender Blue Light | 77.3 |
| 3 darker | 932 | Antique Blue Light | 72.8 |
| 4 darker | 156 | Blue Violet Medium Light | 71.3 |
Blends that stitch up close to DMC 157
One strand each of DMC 25 and DMC 3755 models at ΔE 0.7, closer than any single DMC shade (best single: DMC 341, ΔE 3.0).
| Recipe (2 strands) | Blend hex | ΔE to DMC 157 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 × DMC 25 Lavender Ultra Light + 1 × DMC 3755 Baby Blue | #bbc4dc | 0.7 |
| 1 × DMC 3841 Baby Blue Pale + 1 × DMC 340 Blue Violet Medium | #bec6db | 0.8 |
| 1 × DMC 341 Blue Violet Light + 1 × DMC 159 Blue Gray Light | #bfc5da | 1.0 |
Outline and backstitch colors for DMC 157
Ranked by WCAG contrast ratio against #bbc3d9; 3:1 or more keeps a backstitch line readable.
Stitching with DMC 157
Substituting DMC 157 takes care: Anchor 120 is slightly more saturated (ΔE 3.8), and Madeira 901 is darker and slightly more saturated (ΔE 6.3). Stitch a small test on your fabric before you commit a whole area.
DMC 157 is number 5 of 52 in the DMC blue family, counted from the lightest. For shading, step up to DMC 800 Delft Blue Pale and down to DMC 341 Blue Violet Light. Keep it labelled next to DMC 341, its only neighbor inside ΔE 3.
DMC 157 glows on black or navy Aida (contrast 11.9:1 against black) but almost disappears on white fabric (1.8:1).
For a fuse-bead version of the same design, the nearest beads are Perler Light Grey (ΔE 11.4), Hama 57 Blue (Glow in the Dark) (ΔE 3.9) and Artkal S S153 Pale Lilac (ΔE 3.0); beads come in fewer shades than DMC, so expect a close match at best.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Anchor equivalent of DMC 157?
Anchor 120 Blueberry Light is the closest Anchor match to DMC 157 Cornflower Blue Very Light (ΔE 3.8, close). Runners-up: Anchor 117 (ΔE 8.3) and Anchor 1032 (ΔE 8.5).
What color is DMC 157?
DMC 157 Cornflower Blue Very Light is a light, muted blue in the blue family: hex #bbc3d9, RGB 187, 195, 217, L* 78.8. These are screen values for a dyed thread, so check a real skein in daylight.
What can I use instead of DMC 157?
Inside DMC, DMC 341 Blue Violet Light is nearest (ΔE 3.0). From other brands, Anchor 120 (ΔE 3.8) or Madeira 901 (ΔE 6.3). A 1+1 blend of DMC 25 and DMC 3755 models at ΔE 0.7.
What is DMC 157 in Perler beads?
Perler Light Grey (#b3bab8) is the nearest Perler bead at ΔE 11.4 (loose). In Hama the nearest is Hama 57 Blue (Glow in the Dark) (ΔE 3.9).
What is the Madeira equivalent of DMC 157?
Madeira 901 Blue Violet Very Light at ΔE 6.3 (similar), then Madeira 1708 at ΔE 7.3.
Related
Nearest DMC colors
- DMC 3840 Lavender Blue Light ΔE 3.2
- DMC 800 Delft Blue Pale ΔE 3.5
- DMC 159 Blue Gray Light ΔE 4.1
- DMC 3747 Blue Violet Very Light ΔE 5.3
- DMC 3752 Antique Blue Very Light ΔE 6.6
- DMC 156 Blue Violet Medium Light ΔE 7.0
DMC 157 in other brands
- Perler Light Grey ΔE 11.4
- Hama 57 Blue (Glow in the Dark) ΔE 3.9
- Artkal S S153 Pale Lilac ΔE 3.0
- Nabbi N28 Sky ΔE 8.3