46 — Christmas Red Light
Reds family
Need details on Anchor 46? This medium, highly saturated red shade (Christmas Red Light) is hex #D32400, RGB 211, 36, 0. Cross-brand equivalents in Madeira, J&P Coates, and Sullivans are listed below — ranked by perceptual similarity — alongside 8 nearby Anchor shades and color-theory harmony pairings.
Brand Equivalents for Anchor 46
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 46
Closest Anchor threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with Anchor 46
It stands out clearly on both white and dark fabric, so it is an easy, versatile choice for any ground.
With its high saturation, Anchor 46 (Christmas Red Light) draws the eye — a natural pick for focal motifs, small pops of color, and details you want to read first.
Anchor 46 (Christmas Red Light) sits a hair from Anchor 9046 (Christmas Red Bright) (ΔE 2.3) — 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 46
Anchor threads that pair well with 46, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Reds Family
Anchor 46 in context with nearby shades from the reds color family.
About Anchor 46
Known as Christmas Red Light, Anchor 46 is a medium, highly saturated shade sitting in the reds family with red-orange tones. With a vibrant and steady quality, this thread works beautifully in bold accents and berries. You will find this color at home in patterns featuring valentines and poppies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Anchor 46 — what color is it?
The color of Anchor 46 is Christmas Red Light — a medium red thread (hex #D32400, RGB 211, 36, 0). It shows up most in barn scenes and tomato patterns.
What is the DMC equivalent of Anchor 46?
The closest DMC match for Anchor 46 (Christmas Red Light) is DMC 720 (Orange Spice dark) with a 79% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include DMC 900 (Burnt Orange dark, 76%) and DMC 606 (Burnt Orange-Red, 68%).
Which Anchor threads are close to 46?
The closest Anchor threads to 46 are 9046 Christmas Red Bright (ΔE 2.3), 335 Orange Red (ΔE 2.78), and 334 Orange Red Very Dark (ΔE 4.06). These are useful substitutes when 46 is unavailable or for building gradients.
What is Anchor 46 good for?
Anchor 46 (Christmas Red Light) is commonly used in cross-stitch projects featuring barn scenes, tomato patterns, roses, hearts. Its medium tone works well for standalone motifs and as part of larger palettes. This page includes color harmonies and similar shades to pair with 46.
What fabric color works best with Anchor 46 (Christmas Red Light)?
It stands out clearly on both white and dark fabric, so it is an easy, versatile choice for any ground. For reference, 46 has a contrast ratio of about 5.2:1 on white fabric and 4:1 on black. As a warm shade, its warm cast advances toward the viewer — good for focal points, highlights, and cozy, inviting palettes.