123 — Blue Purple Dark
Blues family#363A6B
Need details on Anchor 123? This medium-dark, moderately saturated blue shade (Blue Purple Dark) is hex #363A6B, RGB 54, 58, 107. Cross-brand equivalents in Madeira, J&P Coates, and Sullivans are listed below — ranked by perceptual similarity — alongside 8 nearby Anchor shades and color-theory harmony pairings.
About Anchor 123
Anchor Stranded Cotton Mouliné
- Fiber
- 100% cotton
- Sold as
- 8 m
Brand Equivalents for Anchor 123
The five closest matches in each brand, ranked by CIEDE2000 perceptual color difference.
DMC
Madeira
J&P Coates
Sullivans
Classic Colorworks
Weeks Dye Works
Gentle Art Sampler
Valdani
Crescent Colors
Similar Anchor Colors to 123
Closest Anchor threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with Anchor 123
It has moderate contrast on both light and dark fabric — usable on either, but test a few stitches on your chosen ground first.
Anchor 123 (Blue Purple Dark) sits a hair from Anchor 178 (Cornflower Blue Very D) (ΔE 2.32) — close enough to blend a strand of each for a smooth gradient or to swap one for the other in a pinch.
Color Harmonies for Anchor 123
Anchor threads that pair well with 123, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Blues Family
Anchor123 in context with nearby shades from the blues color family.
About Anchor 123
Known as Blue Purple Dark, Anchor 123 is a medium-dark, moderately saturated shade sitting in the blues family with true blue tones. With a rich and grounded quality, this thread works beautifully in cool-toned backgrounds and nautical themes. You will find this color at home in patterns featuring winter scenes and forget-me-nots.
Frequently Asked Questions
Anchor 123 — what color is it?
The color of Anchor 123 is Blue Purple Dark — a medium-dark blue thread (hex #363A6B, RGB 54, 58, 107). It shows up most in porcelain patterns and hydrangea blooms.
What is the DMC equivalent of Anchor 123?
The closest DMC match for Anchor 123 (Blue Purple Dark) is DMC 158 (Cornflower Blue medium) with a 84% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include DMC 792 (Cornflower Blue dark, 78%) and DMC 797 (Royal Blue, 77%).
Which Anchor threads are close to 123?
The closest Anchor threads to 123 are 178 Cornflower Blue Very D (ΔE 2.32), 139 Delft Very Dark (ΔE 3.75), and 134 Sky Blue Ultra Dark (ΔE 4.11). These are useful substitutes when 123 is unavailable or for building gradients.
What is Anchor 123 good for?
Anchor 123 (Blue Purple Dark) is commonly used in cross-stitch projects featuring porcelain patterns, hydrangea blooms, skies, water. Its medium-dark tone works well for standalone motifs and as part of larger palettes. This page includes color harmonies and similar shades to pair with 123.
What fabric color works best with Anchor 123 (Blue Purple Dark)?
It has moderate contrast on both light and dark fabric — usable on either, but test a few stitches on your chosen ground first. For reference, 123 has a contrast ratio of about 10.6:1 on white fabric and 2:1 on black. As a cool shade, its cool cast recedes visually — useful for backgrounds, shadows, water and sky, and calm, restful palettes.