851 — Grey Blue Ultra Very Dark
Blues family#3A596A
Need details on Anchor 851? This medium-dark, muted blue shade (Grey Blue Ultra Very Dark) is hex #3A596A, RGB 58, 89, 106. 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.
About Anchor 851
Anchor Stranded Cotton Mouliné
- Fiber
- 100% cotton
- Sold as
- 8 m
Brand Equivalents for Anchor 851
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 851
Closest Anchor threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with Anchor 851
It has moderate contrast on both light and dark fabric — usable on either, but test a few stitches on your chosen ground first.
Its nearest neighbor, Anchor 1068 (Teal), is barely a step away (ΔE 2.87). Tweed the two together for subtle shading, or substitute freely when one is out of stock.
Color Harmonies for Anchor 851
Anchor threads that pair well with 851, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Blues Family
Anchor851 in context with nearby shades from the blues color family.
About Anchor 851
Grey Blue Ultra Very Dark (catalog code Anchor 851) is a medium-dark, muted shade from the blues family with sky blue tones. With a muted and intense quality, this thread works beautifully in bluebird motifs and whale designs. You will find this color at home in patterns featuring sapphire accents and porcelain patterns.
Frequently Asked Questions
What color is Anchor 851?
Anchor 851 is called Grey Blue Ultra Very Dark. It's a medium-dark blue shade (hex #3A596A, RGB 58, 89, 106) in the blues family, commonly used for denim textures, cool-toned backgrounds, and similar motifs.
What's the closest DMC match for Anchor 851?
The closest DMC match for Anchor 851 (Grey Blue Ultra Very Dark) is DMC 3768 (Grey Green dark) with a 74% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include DMC 3765 (Very Dark Peacock Blue, 68%) and DMC 3809 (Turquoise very dark, 66%).
What's a good substitute for Anchor 851?
The closest Anchor threads to 851 are 1068 Teal (ΔE 2.87), 1066 Teal Medium (ΔE 5.62), and 1035 Antique Blue Very Dark (ΔE 8.29). These are useful substitutes when 851 is unavailable or for building gradients.
What projects use Anchor 851?
Cross-stitchers pull Anchor 851 (Grey Blue Ultra Very Dark) for charts featuring denim textures, cool-toned backgrounds, nautical themes, winter scenes. The medium-dark 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 851 (Grey Blue Ultra Very Dark)?
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, 851 has a contrast ratio of about 7.5:1 on white fabric and 2.8:1 on black. As a soft cool shade, its cool cast recedes visually — useful for backgrounds, shadows, water and sky, and calm, restful palettes.