897 — Shell Pink Very Dark
Reds family
Looking up Anchor 897? It's Shell Pink Very Dark, a dark red shade (#5A0200 / RGB 90, 2, 0). Scroll down for Crescent Colours, DMC, and Madeira equivalents ranked by visual similarity, plus 8 close Anchor alternatives and curated color harmonies.
Brand Equivalents for Anchor 897
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 897
Closest Anchor threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with Anchor 897
It pops on white and light fabric but nearly disappears on black, so pair it with a light or neutral ground.
Because it is so deep, Anchor 897 (Shell Pink Very Dark) holds its own as an outlining and lettering color where lighter threads would get lost against the fill.
Color Harmonies for Anchor 897
Anchor threads that pair well with 897, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Reds Family
Anchor 897 in context with nearby shades from the reds color family.
About Anchor 897
Shell Pink Very Dark (catalog code Anchor 897) is a dark, highly saturated shade from the reds family with true red tones. Expect a striking and rich look that suits hearts, holiday designs, and similar motifs. Cross stitch enthusiasts often reach for this thread when stitching bold accents or berries.
Frequently Asked Questions
What color is Anchor 897?
Anchor 897 is called Shell Pink Very Dark. It's a dark red shade (hex #5A0200, RGB 90, 2, 0) in the reds family, commonly used for apple motifs, ladybug designs, and similar motifs.
What's the closest DMC match for Anchor 897?
The closest DMC match for Anchor 897 (Shell Pink Very Dark) is DMC 3857 (Rosewood dark) with a 57% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include DMC 815 (Garnet medium, 56%) and DMC 221 (Shell Pink very dark, 55%).
What's a good substitute for Anchor 897?
The closest Anchor threads to 897 are 1005 Christmas Red Ultra Very Dark (ΔE 7.23), 22 Garnet (ΔE 8.9), and 352 Copper Very Dark (ΔE 10.18). These are useful substitutes when 897 is unavailable or for building gradients.
What projects use Anchor 897?
Cross-stitchers pull Anchor 897 (Shell Pink Very Dark) for charts featuring apple motifs, ladybug designs, barn scenes, tomato patterns. The dark tone reads cleanly on its own and slots into multi-color palettes — see the color harmonies below for pairing ideas.
Is Anchor 897 (Shell Pink Very Dark) good for backstitching and outlines?
Yes — very dark shades like 897 are among the most-used backstitch and outlining colors. Work it in a single strand over one for crisp edges, lettering, and fine detail.