Anchor Stranded Cotton

288 — Lemon Light

Yellows family#F4E076

Anchor 288 (Lemon Light) is a light, highly saturated yellow shade with hex code #F4E076 and RGB values 244, 224, 118. Below you'll find the closest Sullivans, Cosmo, and Classic Colorworks equivalents — ranked by visual color similarity — plus 8 similar Anchor shades and color harmony pairings.

Hex
#F4E076
RGB
244, 224, 118
HSL
50°, 85%, 71%
Lab
88.9, -6.4, 53.8
Lightness
71%
Light
Saturation
85%
Vivid
Hue
50°
Family
Yellows

About Anchor 288

Anchor Stranded Cotton Mouliné

Fiber
100% cotton
Sold as
8 m

Brand Equivalents for Anchor 288

The five closest matches in each brand, ranked by CIEDE2000 perceptual color difference.

Anchor 288Lemon Light

Similar Anchor Colors to 288

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

Working with Anchor 288

On white fabric
1.3:1
On dark fabric
15.8:1
Temperature
warm
Closest to
beige

It reads best on black or dark fabric and can wash out on white, so reach for a dark or mid-tone ground.

Bold accents & focal points

Saturated shades like Anchor 288 (Lemon Light) punch above their stitch count — ideal for the one detail in a design that should grab attention.

Blending & gradients

Because Anchor 289 (Lemon Medium) is so near (ΔE 1.17), the pair makes a natural two-step gradient — handy for shading skin, petals, or skies without a hard seam.

Color Harmonies for Anchor 288

Anchor threads that pair well with 288, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.

Complementary
Opposite on the color wheel — maximum contrast
Analogous
Adjacent hues — smooth, natural transitions
Triadic
Evenly spaced at 120° — vibrant and balanced
Monochromatic
Same hue, different lightness — great for shading

Yellows Family

Anchor288 in context with nearby shades from the yellows color family.

About Anchor 288

Anchor 288 (Lemon Light) is a light, highly saturated shade in the yellows family with warm gold tones. This thread brings a soft and lively presence to projects featuring canary themes or sunflowers. Look for it in charts that feature highlights or warm backgrounds.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Anchor 288 look like?

Anchor 288 (Lemon Light) is a light shade in the yellows family with hex #F4E076 and RGB 244, 224, 118. Stitchers reach for it in projects featuring wheat fields and daffodils.

Which DMC thread matches Anchor 288?

The closest DMC match for Anchor 288 (Lemon Light) is DMC 727 (Topaz very light) with a 88% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include DMC 744 (Yellow pale, 81%) and DMC 3078 (Golden Yellow very light, 78%).

What Anchor colors are similar to 288?

The closest Anchor threads to 288 are 289 Lemon Medium (ΔE 1.17), 295 Golden Yellow Medium Light (ΔE 3.66), and 278 Lime Green Light (ΔE 4.39). These are useful substitutes when 288 is unavailable or for building gradients.

When should I use Anchor 288?

Reach for Anchor 288 (Lemon Light) when your project calls for wheat fields, daffodils, lemon motifs, rubber duck designs. Its light character carries both small accents and wider palette work; the harmony picks on this page show natural companions to 288.

What fabric color works best with Anchor 288 (Lemon Light)?

It reads best on black or dark fabric and can wash out on white, so reach for a dark or mid-tone ground. For reference, 288 has a contrast ratio of about 1.3:1 on white fabric and 15.8:1 on black. As a warm shade, its warm cast advances toward the viewer — good for focal points, highlights, and cozy, inviting palettes.