232 — Shell Grey Medium
Reds family#B8A3A2
Below: Anchor 232 (Shell Grey Medium), a medium-light, subdued red shade with hex #B8A3A2 and RGB 184, 163, 162. Find its closest J&P Coates, Sullivans, and Cosmo matches ranked by visual similarity, plus 8 similar Anchor shades and a full set of color harmony picks.
About Anchor 232
Anchor Stranded Cotton Mouliné
- Fiber
- 100% cotton
- Sold as
- 8 m
Brand Equivalents for Anchor 232
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 232
Closest Anchor threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with Anchor 232
It has moderate contrast on both light and dark fabric — usable on either, but test a few stitches on your chosen ground first.
Color Harmonies for Anchor 232
Anchor threads that pair well with 232, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Reds Family
Anchor232 in context with nearby shades from the reds color family.
About Anchor 232
Anchor 232 is the floss known as Shell Grey Medium: a subdued, medium-light member of the reds family with true red tones. The balanced and quiet character of this shade lends itself well to apple motifs and ladybug designs. Stitchers frequently choose it for barn scenes and tomato patterns in their projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Anchor 232 look like?
Anchor 232 (Shell Grey Medium) is a medium-light shade in the reds family with hex #B8A3A2 and RGB 184, 163, 162. Stitchers reach for it in projects featuring bold accents and berries.
Which DMC thread matches Anchor 232?
The closest DMC match for Anchor 232 (Shell Grey Medium) is DMC 453 (Shell Grey light) with a 78% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include DMC 3743 (Antique Violet very light, 64%) and DMC 05 (Light Driftwood, 63%).
What Anchor colors are similar to 232?
The closest Anchor threads to 232 are 399 Steel Grey Light (ΔE 5.11), 231 Shell Grey Light (ΔE 5.17), and 869 Antique Violet Very Light (ΔE 7.48). These are useful substitutes when 232 is unavailable or for building gradients.
When should I use Anchor 232?
Reach for Anchor 232 (Shell Grey Medium) when your project calls for bold accents, berries, valentines, poppies. Its medium-light character carries both small accents and wider palette work; the harmony picks on this page show natural companions to 232.
What fabric color works best with Anchor 232 (Shell Grey Medium)?
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, 232 has a contrast ratio of about 2.4:1 on white fabric and 8.8:1 on black. As a soft warm shade, its warm cast advances toward the viewer — good for focal points, highlights, and cozy, inviting palettes.