398 — Pearl Grey
Grays family
Anchor 398 — Pearl Grey — has hex #89888A and RGB 137, 136, 138. This medium, subdued gray 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 398
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 398
Closest Anchor threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with Anchor 398
It has moderate contrast on both light and dark fabric — usable on either, but test a few stitches on your chosen ground first.
Color Harmonies for Anchor 398
Anchor threads that pair well with 398, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Grays Family
Anchor 398 in context with nearby shades from the grays color family.
About Anchor 398
Anchor 398 (Pearl Grey) is a medium, subdued shade in the grays family. It has a warm and grounded feel that suits elephant motifs and cobblestone paths particularly well. Designers often pair this shade with industrial designs or wolf patterns for balanced palettes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Anchor 398 look like?
Anchor 398 (Pearl Grey) is a medium shade in the grays family with hex #89888A and RGB 137, 136, 138. Stitchers reach for it in projects featuring shading and outlines.
Which DMC thread matches Anchor 398?
The closest DMC match for Anchor 398 (Pearl Grey) is DMC 03 (Medium Tin) with a 88% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include DMC 318 (Steel Grey light, 67%) and DMC 169 (Pewter light, 56%).
What Anchor colors are similar to 398?
The closest Anchor threads to 398 are 849 Grey Blue Medium (ΔE 4.65), 900 Beaver Grey Light (ΔE 5.55), and 232 Shell Grey Medium (ΔE 6.5). These are useful substitutes when 398 is unavailable or for building gradients.
When should I use Anchor 398?
Reach for Anchor 398 (Pearl Grey) when your project calls for shading, outlines, urban scenes, neutral backgrounds. Its medium character carries both small accents and wider palette work; the harmony picks on this page show natural companions to 398.
What fabric color works best with Anchor 398 (Pearl Grey)?
It has moderate contrast on both light and dark fabric — usable on either, but test a few stitches on your chosen ground first. For reference, 398 has a contrast ratio of about 3.5:1 on white fabric and 6:1 on black. As a neutral shade, as a near-neutral, it plays quietly with almost any palette and works well as a background or shading tone.