85 — Mauve Very Light
Pinks family
Below: Anchor 85 (Mauve Very Light), a light, highly saturated pink shade with hex #FFACE9 and RGB 255, 172, 233. 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.
Brand Equivalents for Anchor 85
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 85
Closest Anchor threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with Anchor 85
It reads best on black or dark fabric and can wash out on white, so reach for a dark or mid-tone ground.
Saturated shades like Anchor 85 (Mauve Very Light) punch above their stitch count — ideal for the one detail in a design that should grab attention.
Color Harmonies for Anchor 85
Anchor threads that pair well with 85, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Pinks Family
Anchor 85 in context with nearby shades from the pinks color family.
About Anchor 85
Anchor 85 is the floss known as Mauve Very Light: a highly saturated, light member of the pinks family with orchid-toned tones. The soft and lively character of this shade lends itself well to romantic motifs and blush accents. Stitchers frequently choose it for cherry blossoms and ballet themes in their projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Anchor 85 look like?
Anchor 85 (Mauve Very Light) is a light shade in the pinks family with hex #FFACE9 and RGB 255, 172, 233. Stitchers reach for it in projects featuring tulip blooms and cosmetics-themed designs.
Which DMC thread matches Anchor 85?
The closest DMC match for Anchor 85 (Mauve Very Light) is DMC 3609 (Plum ultra light) with a 65% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include DMC 605 (Cranberry very light, 59%) and DMC 153 (Violet very light, 55%).
What Anchor colors are similar to 85?
The closest Anchor threads to 85 are 55 Pink Mauve Light (ΔE 6.44), 1094 Pink Medium Light (ΔE 7.39), and 342 Lavender Ultra Very Light (ΔE 8.58). These are useful substitutes when 85 is unavailable or for building gradients.
When should I use Anchor 85?
Reach for Anchor 85 (Mauve Very Light) when your project calls for tulip blooms, cosmetics-themed designs, rose buds, florals. Its light character carries both small accents and wider palette work; the harmony picks on this page show natural companions to 85.
What fabric color works best with Anchor 85 (Mauve Very Light)?
It reads best on black or dark fabric and can wash out on white, so reach for a dark or mid-tone ground. For reference, 85 has a contrast ratio of about 1.7:1 on white fabric and 12.3:1 on black. As a cool shade, its cool cast recedes visually — useful for backgrounds, shadows, water and sky, and calm, restful palettes.