397 — Pearl Grey Ultra Very Light
Yellows family
Looking up Anchor 397? It's Pearl Grey Ultra Very Light, a light yellow shade (#D5D4C9 / RGB 213, 212, 201). 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 397
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 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.
Its nearest neighbor, Anchor 390 (Beige Grey Light), is barely a step away (ΔE 2.04). Tweed the two together for subtle shading, or substitute freely when one is out of stock.
Color Harmonies for Anchor 397
Anchor threads that pair well with 397, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Yellows Family
Anchor 397 in context with nearby shades from the yellows color family.
About Anchor 397
A light, subdued entry in the yellows family, Anchor 397 carries the name Pearl Grey Ultra Very Light with sunny yellow tones. The shade reads as subtle and pale — a go-to choice for stars and honey themes. It also turns up in patterns built around wheat fields and daffodils.
Frequently Asked Questions
What color is Anchor 397?
Anchor 397 is called Pearl Grey Ultra Very Light. It's a light yellow shade (hex #D5D4C9, RGB 213, 212, 201) in the yellows family, commonly used for canary themes, sunflowers, 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 3072 (Beaver Grey very light) with a 78% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include DMC 10 (Very Light Tender Green, 76%) and DMC 3866 (Mocha Brown ultra very light, 73%).
What's a good substitute for Anchor 397?
The closest Anchor threads to 397 are 390 Beige Grey Light (ΔE 2.04), 387 Beige Brown Very Light (ΔE 3.65), and 213 Misty Green Ultra Very Light (ΔE 4.64). 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 canary themes, sunflowers, highlights, warm backgrounds. 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 1.5:1 on white fabric and 14.1:1 on black. As a soft warm shade, its warm cast advances toward the viewer — good for focal points, highlights, and cozy, inviting palettes.