289 — Lemon Medium
Yellows family
Looking up Anchor 289? It's Lemon Medium, a medium-light yellow shade (#FAE555 / RGB 250, 229, 85). Scroll down for Cosmo, Classic Colorworks, and Weeks Dye Works equivalents ranked by visual similarity, plus 8 close Anchor alternatives and curated color harmonies.
Brand Equivalents for Anchor 289
Top 5 closest matches in each brand, ranked by visual color similarity. How matching works
DMC
Madeira
J&P Coates
Sullivans
Classic Colorworks
Weeks Dye Works
Gentle Art Sampler
Valdani
Crescent Colours
Similar Anchor Colors to 289
Closest Anchor threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with Anchor 289
It reads best on black or dark fabric and can wash out on white, so reach for a dark or mid-tone ground.
With its high saturation, Anchor 289 (Lemon Medium) draws the eye — a natural pick for focal motifs, small pops of color, and details you want to read first.
Color Harmonies for Anchor 289
Anchor threads that pair well with 289, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Yellows Family
Anchor 289 in context with nearby shades from the yellows color family.
About Anchor 289
Meet Anchor 289, Lemon Medium — a highly saturated, medium-light thread in the yellows family with warm gold tones. The shade reads as crisp and versatile — a go-to choice for sunflowers and highlights. It also turns up in patterns built around warm backgrounds and golden accents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Anchor 289 — what color is it?
The color of Anchor 289 is Lemon Medium — a medium-light yellow thread (hex #FAE555, RGB 250, 229, 85). It shows up most in daffodils and lemon motifs.
What is the DMC equivalent of Anchor 289?
The closest DMC match for Anchor 289 (Lemon Medium) is DMC 727 (Topaz very light) with a 82% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include DMC 307 (Lemon, 80%) and DMC 445 (Lemon light, 69%).
Which Anchor threads are close to 289?
The closest Anchor threads to 289 are 288 Lemon Light (ΔE 4.17), 293 Golden Yellow Light (ΔE 5.63), and 295 Golden Yellow Medium Light (ΔE 6.73). These are useful substitutes when 289 is unavailable or for building gradients.
What is Anchor 289 good for?
Anchor 289 (Lemon Medium) is commonly used in cross-stitch projects featuring daffodils, lemon motifs, rubber duck designs, bumblebee patterns. Its medium-light tone works well for standalone motifs and as part of larger palettes. This page includes color harmonies and similar shades to pair with 289.
What fabric color works best with Anchor 289 (Lemon Medium)?
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, 289 has a contrast ratio of about 1.3:1 on white fabric and 16.4:1 on black. As a warm shade, its warm cast advances toward the viewer — good for focal points, highlights, and cozy, inviting palettes.