72 — Dusty Plum Ultra Very Dark
Reds family#4A141E
Need details on Anchor 72? This dark, vivid red shade (Dusty Plum Ultra Very Dark) is hex #4A141E, RGB 74, 20, 30. Cross-brand equivalents in Weeks Dye Works, Gentle Art Sampler, and Valdani are listed below — ranked by perceptual similarity — alongside 8 nearby Anchor shades and color-theory harmony pairings.
About Anchor 72
Anchor Stranded Cotton Mouliné
- Fiber
- 100% cotton
- Sold as
- 8 m
Brand Equivalents for Anchor 72
The five closest matches in each brand, ranked by CIEDE2000 perceptual color difference.
DMC
Madeira
J&P Coates
Sullivans
Classic Colorworks
Weeks Dye Works
Gentle Art Sampler
Valdani
Crescent Colors
Similar Anchor Colors to 72
Closest Anchor threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with Anchor 72
It pops on white and light fabric but nearly disappears on black, so pair it with a light or neutral ground.
Very dark shades like Anchor 72 (Dusty Plum Ultra Very Dark) are workhorses for backstitch outlines, lettering, and fine detail — the depth reads cleanly at a single strand over one.
Color Harmonies for Anchor 72
Anchor threads that pair well with 72, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Reds Family
Anchor72 in context with nearby shades from the reds color family.
About Anchor 72
Anchor 72 is the floss known as Dusty Plum Ultra Very Dark: a vivid, dark member of the reds family with warm crimson tones. Stitchers describe its character as bold and saturated, perfect for holiday designs and bold accents. It blends comfortably into projects centered on berries and valentines.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Anchor 72 look like?
Anchor 72 (Dusty Plum Ultra Very Dark) is a dark shade in the reds family with hex #4A141E and RGB 74, 20, 30. Stitchers reach for it in projects featuring ladybug designs and barn scenes.
Which DMC thread matches Anchor 72?
The closest DMC match for Anchor 72 (Dusty Plum Ultra Very Dark) is DMC 814 (Garnet dark) with a 80% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include DMC 902 (Garnet very dark, 77%) and DMC 3857 (Rosewood dark, 70%).
What Anchor colors are similar to 72?
The closest Anchor threads to 72 are 70 Dusty Plum Very Dark (ΔE 4.15), 45 Garnet Very Dark (ΔE 6.13), and 22 Garnet (ΔE 6.66). These are useful substitutes when 72 is unavailable or for building gradients.
When should I use Anchor 72?
Reach for Anchor 72 (Dusty Plum Ultra Very Dark) when your project calls for ladybug designs, barn scenes, tomato patterns, roses. Its dark character carries both small accents and wider palette work; the harmony picks on this page show natural companions to 72.
Is Anchor 72 (Dusty Plum Ultra Very Dark) good for backstitching and outlines?
It's an excellent outline color. The depth of 72 defines edges and text cleanly where lighter threads would disappear into the fill; one strand is usually enough for backstitch.