Anchor Stranded Cotton

47 — Christmas Red

Reds family#BD2228

Below: Anchor 47 (Christmas Red), a medium, vivid red shade with hex #BD2228 and RGB 189, 34, 40. Find its closest J&P Coates, Sullivans, and Cosmo matches ranked by visual similarity, plus 8 similar Anchor shades and a full set of color harmony picks.

Hex
#BD2228
RGB
189, 34, 40
HSL
358°, 70%, 44%
Lab
41.4, 59.3, 37.3
Lightness
44%
Medium
Saturation
70%
Rich
Hue
358°
Family
Reds

About Anchor 47

Anchor Stranded Cotton Mouliné

Fiber
100% cotton
Sold as
8 m

Brand Equivalents for Anchor 47

The five closest matches in each brand, ranked by CIEDE2000 perceptual color difference.

Anchor 47Christmas Red

Similar Anchor Colors to 47

Closest Anchor threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.

Working with Anchor 47

On white fabric
6.1:1
On dark fabric
3.4:1
Temperature
warm
Closest to
crimson

It has moderate contrast on both light and dark fabric — usable on either, but test a few stitches on your chosen ground first.

Bold accents & focal points

Anchor 47 (Christmas Red) is vivid enough to carry a focal point; use it sparingly for accents so it stays the star rather than competing across the whole piece.

Blending & gradients

Its nearest neighbor, Anchor 13 (Coral Dark), is barely a step away (ΔE 2.62). Tweed the two together for subtle shading, or substitute freely when one is out of stock.

Color Harmonies for Anchor 47

Anchor threads that pair well with 47, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.

Complementary
Opposite on the color wheel — maximum contrast
Analogous
Adjacent hues — smooth, natural transitions
Triadic
Evenly spaced at 120° — vibrant and balanced
Monochromatic
Same hue, different lightness — great for shading

Reds Family

Anchor47 in context with nearby shades from the reds color family.

About Anchor 47

A medium, vivid entry in the reds family, Anchor 47 carries the name Christmas Red with warm crimson tones. The confident and warm character of this shade lends itself well to berries and valentines. Stitchers frequently choose it for poppies and cardinal birds in their projects.

Frequently Asked Questions

What color is Anchor 47?

Anchor 47 is called Christmas Red. It's a medium red shade (hex #BD2228, RGB 189, 34, 40) in the reds family, commonly used for tomato patterns, roses, and similar motifs.

What's the closest DMC match for Anchor 47?

The closest DMC match for Anchor 47 (Christmas Red) is DMC 349 (Coral dark) with a 95% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include DMC 666 (Christmas Red bright, 89%) and DMC 900 (Burnt Orange dark, 74%).

What's a good substitute for Anchor 47?

The closest Anchor threads to 47 are 13 Coral Dark (ΔE 2.62), 340 Mahogany Medium Dark (ΔE 2.64), and 19 Pink Bright Ultra Very (ΔE 2.65). These are useful substitutes when 47 is unavailable or for building gradients.

What projects use Anchor 47?

Cross-stitchers pull Anchor 47 (Christmas Red) for charts featuring tomato patterns, roses, hearts, holiday designs. The medium 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 47 (Christmas Red)?

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, 47 has a contrast ratio of about 6.1:1 on white fabric and 3.4:1 on black. As a warm shade, its warm cast advances toward the viewer — good for focal points, highlights, and cozy, inviting palettes.