Anchor Stranded Cotton

123 — Blue Purple Dark

Blues family

Need details on Anchor 123? This dark, moderately saturated blue shade (Blue Purple Dark) is hex #1B183A, RGB 27, 24, 58. 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.

Hex
#1B183A
RGB
27, 24, 58
HSL
245°, 41%, 16%
Lab
10.5, 12.4, -21.6
Lightness
16%
Very dark
Saturation
41%
Muted
Hue
245°
Family
Blues

Brand Equivalents for Anchor 123

Top 5 closest matches in each brand, ranked by visual color similarity. How matching works

Anchor 123 Blue Purple Dark

Sullivans

Navy Blue Dark 45224 79% Approx
Navy Blue 45069 77% Approx
Baby Blue Ultra Very Dark 45494 60% Fair
Antique Blue Very Dark 45375 58% Fair
Royal Blue Very Dark 45222 57% Fair

Crescent Colours

Purple Aster 070 56% Fair
Wavy Navy 075 46% Fair
Granny Annie 083 28% Fair
Tartan Plaid 073 24% Fair
Black Coffee 004 22% Fair

Similar Anchor Colors to 123

Closest Anchor threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.

Anchor 123 Blue Purple Dark
Antique Blue Ultra Very Dark Anchor 1036 Close ΔE 5.25 Navy Blue Very Dark Anchor 127 Noticeable ΔE 5.51 Cornflower Blue Medium Anchor 941 Noticeable ΔE 5.69 Navy Blue Ultra Very Dark Anchor 152 Noticeable ΔE 5.86 Navy Blue Medium Anchor 148 Noticeable ΔE 6.1 Cornflower Blue Very D Anchor 178 Noticeable ΔE 6.26 Sky Blue Very Dark Anchor 133 Noticeable ΔE 8.22 Sky Blue Ultra Dark Anchor 134 Noticeable ΔE 8.55

Working with Anchor 123

On white fabric
17:1
On dark fabric
1.2:1
Temperature
cool
Closest to
navy

It pops on white and light fabric but nearly disappears on black, so pair it with a light or neutral ground.

Backstitch & outlines

Anchor 123 (Blue Purple Dark) is dark enough to define edges: stitchers reach for shades like it when a design needs crisp backstitch outlines or readable text.

Color Harmonies for Anchor 123

Anchor threads that pair well with 123, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.

Complementary
Opposite on the color wheel — maximum contrast
123
269 Avocado Green Very Dark
Analogous
Adjacent hues — smooth, natural transitions
123
102 Lavender Ultra Very Dark 143 Royal Blue Dark
Triadic
Evenly spaced at 120° — vibrant and balanced
123
381 Black Brown Dark 862 Fern Green Very Dark
Monochromatic
Same hue, different lightness — great for shading
123
122 Blue Purple Medium 176 Cornflower Blue Medium 108 Lavender Very Light 95 Violet Ultra Very Light

Blues Family

Anchor 123 in context with nearby shades from the blues color family.

123 Blue Purple Dark 123 143 Royal Blue Dark 143 133 Sky Blue Very Dark 133 164 Baby Blue Ultra Very Dark 164 148 Navy Blue Medium 148 150 Navy Blue Dark 150 149 Navy Blue Medium Dark 149 134 Sky Blue Ultra Dark 134 152 Navy Blue Ultra Very Dark 152 127 Navy Blue Very Dark 127

About Anchor 123

Known as Blue Purple Dark, Anchor 123 is a dark, moderately saturated shade sitting in the blues family with deep blue tones. With a strong and confident 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 dark blue thread (hex #1B183A, RGB 27, 24, 58). 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 823 (Navy Blue dark) with a 70% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include DMC 939 (Navy Blue very dark, 63%) and DMC 336 (Navy Blue, 62%).

Which Anchor threads are close to 123?

The closest Anchor threads to 123 are 1036 Antique Blue Ultra Very Dark (ΔE 5.25), 127 Navy Blue Very Dark (ΔE 5.51), and 941 Cornflower Blue Medium (ΔE 5.69). 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 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.

Is Anchor 123 (Blue Purple Dark) good for backstitching and outlines?

Yes — very dark shades like 123 are among the most-used backstitch and outlining colors. Work it in a single strand over one for crisp edges, lettering, and fine detail.

Anchor Color Chart DMC ↔ Anchor Conversion