Anchor Stranded Cotton

289 — Lemon Medium

Yellows family#F2DE6C

Looking up Anchor 289? It's Lemon Medium, a medium-light yellow shade (#F2DE6C / RGB 242, 222, 108). Scroll down for Cosmo, Classic Colorworks, and Weeks Dye Works equivalents ranked by visual similarity, plus 8 close Anchor alternatives and curated color harmonies.

Hex
#F2DE6C
RGB
242, 222, 108
HSL
51°, 84%, 69%
Lab
88.1, -7.0, 57.5
Lightness
69%
Light
Saturation
84%
Vivid
Hue
51°
Family
Yellows

About Anchor 289

Anchor Stranded Cotton Mouliné

Fiber
100% cotton
Sold as
8 m

Brand Equivalents for Anchor 289

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

Anchor 289Lemon Medium

Similar Anchor Colors to 289

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

Working with Anchor 289

On white fabric
1.4:1
On dark fabric
15.4:1
Temperature
warm
Closest to
yellow

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

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.

Blending & gradients

Anchor 289 (Lemon Medium) sits a hair from Anchor 288 (Lemon Light) (ΔE 1.17) — 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 289

Anchor threads that pair well with 289, 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

Anchor289 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 #F2DE6C, RGB 242, 222, 108). 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 88% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include DMC 744 (Yellow pale, 79%) and DMC 3078 (Golden Yellow very light, 73%).

Which Anchor threads are close to 289?

The closest Anchor threads to 289 are 288 Lemon Light (ΔE 1.17), 295 Golden Yellow Medium Light (ΔE 3.99), and 278 Lime Green Light (ΔE 4.38). 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 1.4:1 on white fabric and 15.4:1 on black. As a warm shade, its warm cast advances toward the viewer — good for focal points, highlights, and cozy, inviting palettes.