40 — Rose
Reds family
Anchor 40 — Rose — has hex #EF708A and RGB 239, 112, 138. This medium-light, vivid 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.
Brand Equivalents for Anchor 40
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 40
Closest Anchor threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with Anchor 40
It has moderate contrast on both light and dark fabric — usable on either, but test a few stitches on your chosen ground first.
With its high saturation, Anchor 40 (Rose) draws the eye — a natural pick for focal motifs, small pops of color, and details you want to read first.
Anchor 40 (Rose) sits a hair from Anchor 31 (Pink Bright Light) (ΔE 2.88) — close enough to blend a strand of each for a smooth gradient or to swap one for the other in a pinch.
Color Harmonies for Anchor 40
Anchor threads that pair well with 40, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Reds Family
Anchor 40 in context with nearby shades from the reds color family.
About Anchor 40
Known as Rose, Anchor 40 is a medium-light, vivid shade sitting in the reds family with warm crimson tones. It has a crisp and versatile feel that suits ladybug designs and barn scenes particularly well. Designers often pair this shade with tomato patterns or roses for balanced palettes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Anchor 40 — what color is it?
The color of Anchor 40 is Rose — a medium-light red thread (hex #EF708A, RGB 239, 112, 138). It shows up most in berries and valentines.
What is the DMC equivalent of Anchor 40?
The closest DMC match for Anchor 40 (Rose) is DMC 899 (Rose medium) with a 88% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include DMC 3733 (Dusty Rose, 85%) and DMC 962 (Dusty Rose medium, 81%).
Which Anchor threads are close to 40?
The closest Anchor threads to 40 are 31 Pink Bright Light (ΔE 2.88), 33 Pink Bright (ΔE 2.94), and 26 Baby Pink Medium (ΔE 4.13). These are useful substitutes when 40 is unavailable or for building gradients.
What is Anchor 40 good for?
Anchor 40 (Rose) is commonly used in cross-stitch projects featuring berries, valentines, poppies, cardinal birds. Its medium-light tone works well for standalone motifs and as part of larger palettes. This page includes color harmonies and similar shades to pair with 40.
What fabric color works best with Anchor 40 (Rose)?
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, 40 has a contrast ratio of about 2.9:1 on white fabric and 7.4:1 on black. As a warm shade, its warm cast advances toward the viewer — good for focal points, highlights, and cozy, inviting palettes.