381 — Black Brown Dark
Reds family#2E1613
Anchor 381 — Black Brown Dark — has hex #2E1613 and RGB 46, 22, 19. This dark, moderately saturated red 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.
About Anchor 381
Anchor Stranded Cotton Mouliné
- Fiber
- 100% cotton
- Sold as
- 8 m
Brand Equivalents for Anchor 381
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 381
Closest Anchor threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with Anchor 381
It pops on white and light fabric but nearly disappears on black, so pair it with a light or neutral ground.
Because it is so deep, Anchor 381 (Black Brown Dark) holds its own as an outlining and lettering color where lighter threads would get lost against the fill.
Its nearest neighbor, Anchor 380 (Black Brown Medium Dark), is barely a step away (ΔE 2.9). Tweed the two together for subtle shading, or substitute freely when one is out of stock.
Color Harmonies for Anchor 381
Anchor threads that pair well with 381, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Reds Family
Anchor381 in context with nearby shades from the reds color family.
About Anchor 381
Black Brown Dark (catalog code Anchor 381) is a dark, moderately saturated shade from the reds family with true red tones. It has a dark and rich feel that suits hearts and holiday designs particularly well. Designers often pair this shade with bold accents or berries for balanced palettes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What color is Anchor 381?
Anchor 381 is called Black Brown Dark. It's a dark red shade (hex #2E1613, RGB 46, 22, 19) in the reds family, commonly used for apple motifs, ladybug designs, and similar motifs.
What's the closest DMC match for Anchor 381?
The closest DMC match for Anchor 381 (Black Brown Dark) is DMC 938 (Coffee Brown ultra dark) with a 69% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include DMC 3031 (Mocha Brown very dark, 58%) and DMC 838 (Beige Brown very dark, 58%).
What's a good substitute for Anchor 381?
The closest Anchor threads to 381 are 380 Black Brown Medium Dark (ΔE 2.9), 382 Black Brown Very Dark (ΔE 3.04), and 1088 Taupe Very Dark (ΔE 5.09). These are useful substitutes when 381 is unavailable or for building gradients.
What projects use Anchor 381?
Cross-stitchers pull Anchor 381 (Black Brown Dark) for charts featuring apple motifs, ladybug designs, barn scenes, tomato patterns. The dark tone reads cleanly on its own and slots into multi-color palettes — see the color harmonies below for pairing ideas.
Is Anchor 381 (Black Brown Dark) good for backstitching and outlines?
Yes — very dark shades like 381 are among the most-used backstitch and outlining colors. Work it in a single strand over one for crisp edges, lettering, and fine detail.