343 — Antique Blue Light
Blues family
Anchor 343 — Antique Blue Light — has hex #B9C0CD and RGB 185, 192, 205. This light, muted blue thread sits alongside its closest Classic Colorworks, Weeks Dye Works, and Gentle Art Sampler matches below, with 8 similar Anchor shades and a panel of color harmonies for palette planning.
Brand Equivalents for Anchor 343
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 343
Closest Anchor threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with Anchor 343
It reads best on black or dark fabric and can wash out on white, so reach for a dark or mid-tone ground.
Color Harmonies for Anchor 343
Anchor threads that pair well with 343, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Blues Family
Anchor 343 in context with nearby shades from the blues color family.
About Anchor 343
Known as Antique Blue Light, Anchor 343 is a light, muted shade sitting in the blues family with sky blue tones. It has a quiet and understated feel that suits cool-toned backgrounds and nautical themes particularly well. Designers often pair this shade with winter scenes or forget-me-nots for balanced palettes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Anchor 343 — what color is it?
The color of Anchor 343 is Antique Blue Light — a light blue thread (hex #B9C0CD, RGB 185, 192, 205). It shows up most in porcelain patterns and hydrangea blooms.
What is the DMC equivalent of Anchor 343?
The closest DMC match for Anchor 343 (Antique Blue Light) is DMC 762 (Pearl Grey very light) with a 84% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include DMC 3753 (Antique Blue ultra very light, 74%) and DMC 168 (Pewter very light, 70%).
Which Anchor threads are close to 343?
The closest Anchor threads to 343 are 975 Blue Very Light (ΔE 3.82), 1032 Antique Blue Very Light (ΔE 4.24), and 234 Pearl Grey Very Light (ΔE 4.93). These are useful substitutes when 343 is unavailable or for building gradients.
What is Anchor 343 good for?
Anchor 343 (Antique Blue Light) is commonly used in cross-stitch projects featuring porcelain patterns, hydrangea blooms, skies, water. Its light tone works well for standalone motifs and as part of larger palettes. This page includes color harmonies and similar shades to pair with 343.
What fabric color works best with Anchor 343 (Antique Blue 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, 343 has a contrast ratio of about 1.8:1 on white fabric and 11.5:1 on black. As a soft cool shade, its cool cast recedes visually — useful for backgrounds, shadows, water and sky, and calm, restful palettes.