397 — Pearl Grey Ultra Very Light
Browns family#D4CEC7
Looking up Anchor 397? It's Pearl Grey Ultra Very Light, a light brown shade (#D4CEC7 / RGB 212, 206, 199). Scroll down for Cosmo, Classic Colorworks, and Weeks Dye Works equivalents ranked by visual similarity, plus 8 close Anchor alternatives and curated color harmonies.
About Anchor 397
Anchor Stranded Cotton Mouliné
- Fiber
- 100% cotton
- Sold as
- 8 m
Brand Equivalents for Anchor 397
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 397
Closest Anchor threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with Anchor 397
It reads best on black or dark fabric and can wash out on white, so reach for a dark or mid-tone ground.
For skin, hands, and faces, Anchor 397 (Pearl Grey Ultra Very Light) is a plausible mid-value — pair it with a highlight and a shadow tone from the same family for believable modeling.
Color Harmonies for Anchor 397
Anchor threads that pair well with 397, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Browns Family
Anchor397 in context with nearby shades from the browns color family.
About Anchor 397
A light, subdued entry in the browns family, Anchor 397 carries the name Pearl Grey Ultra Very Light with earthy sienna tones. The shade reads as subtle and pale — a go-to choice for wooden textures and coffee themes. It also turns up in patterns built around rustic designs and leather accents.
Frequently Asked Questions
What color is Anchor 397?
Anchor 397 is called Pearl Grey Ultra Very Light. It's a light brown shade (hex #D4CEC7, RGB 212, 206, 199) in the browns family, commonly used for gingerbread themes, tree trunks, and similar motifs.
What's the closest DMC match for Anchor 397?
The closest DMC match for Anchor 397 (Pearl Grey Ultra Very Light) is DMC 01 (White Tin) with a 77% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include DMC 3866 (Mocha Brown ultra very light, 75%) and DMC 3072 (Beaver Grey very light, 71%).
What's a good substitute for Anchor 397?
The closest Anchor threads to 397 are 234 Pearl Grey Very Light (ΔE 3.26), 847 Grey Blue Ultra Very Light (ΔE 5.13), and 926 Beige Brown Ultra Very Light (ΔE 5.13). These are useful substitutes when 397 is unavailable or for building gradients.
What projects use Anchor 397?
Cross-stitchers pull Anchor 397 (Pearl Grey Ultra Very Light) for charts featuring gingerbread themes, tree trunks, earth tones, animal fur. The light tone reads cleanly on its own and slots into multi-color palettes — see the color harmonies below for pairing ideas.
What fabric color works best with Anchor 397 (Pearl Grey Ultra Very 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, 397 has a contrast ratio of about 1.6:1 on white fabric and 13.5:1 on black. As a soft warm shade, its warm cast advances toward the viewer — good for focal points, highlights, and cozy, inviting palettes.