881 — Cream Dark
Oranges family
Anchor 881 — Cream Dark — has hex #E3BB92 and RGB 227, 187, 146. This light, vivid orange thread sits alongside its closest DMC, Madeira, and J&P Coates matches below, with 8 similar Anchor shades and a panel of color harmonies for palette planning.
Brand Equivalents for Anchor 881
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 881
Closest Anchor threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with Anchor 881
It reads best on black or dark fabric and can wash out on white, so reach for a dark or mid-tone ground.
For skin, hands, and faces, Anchor 881 (Cream Dark) is a plausible mid-value — pair it with a highlight and a shadow tone from the same family for believable modeling.
Its nearest neighbor, Anchor 361 (Tan Very Light), is barely a step away (ΔE 1.61). Tweed the two together for subtle shading, or substitute freely when one is out of stock.
Color Harmonies for Anchor 881
Anchor threads that pair well with 881, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Oranges Family
Anchor 881 in context with nearby shades from the oranges color family.
About Anchor 881
A light, vivid entry in the oranges family, Anchor 881 carries the name Cream Dark with warm tangerine tones. Its tone is fresh and easy, making it a popular choice for monarch butterflies and persimmon patterns. It pairs nicely in designs that call for autumn leaves or sunsets.
Frequently Asked Questions
What color is Anchor 881?
Anchor 881 is called Cream Dark. It's a light orange shade (hex #E3BB92, RGB 227, 187, 146) in the oranges family, commonly used for marigolds, fall wreaths, and similar motifs.
What's the closest DMC match for Anchor 881?
The closest DMC match for Anchor 881 (Cream Dark) is DMC 739 (Tan ultra very light) with a 76% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include DMC 951 (Tawny light, 75%) and DMC 738 (Tan very light, 74%).
What's a good substitute for Anchor 881?
The closest Anchor threads to 881 are 361 Tan Very Light (ΔE 1.61), 367 Coffee Light (ΔE 2.36), and 1080 Taupe Ultra Light (ΔE 3.24). These are useful substitutes when 881 is unavailable or for building gradients.
What projects use Anchor 881?
Cross-stitchers pull Anchor 881 (Cream Dark) for charts featuring marigolds, fall wreaths, citrus motifs, fox designs. The light 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 881 (Cream Dark)?
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, 881 has a contrast ratio of about 1.8:1 on white fabric and 11.8:1 on black. As a warm shade, its warm cast advances toward the viewer — good for focal points, highlights, and cozy, inviting palettes.