Anchor Stranded Cotton

905 — Brown Grey Dark

Browns family

Looking up Anchor 905? It's Brown Grey Dark, a dark brown shade (#35271B / RGB 53, 39, 27). Scroll down for Crescent Colours, DMC, and Madeira equivalents ranked by visual similarity, plus 8 close Anchor alternatives and curated color harmonies.

Hex
#35271B
RGB
53, 39, 27
HSL
28°, 33%, 16%
Lab
16.9, 4.6, 10.5
Lightness
16%
Very dark
Saturation
33%
Muted
Hue
28°
Family
Browns

Brand Equivalents for Anchor 905

Top 5 closest matches in each brand, ranked by visual color similarity. How matching works

Anchor 905 Brown Grey Dark

Sullivans

Mocha Brown Dark 45393 77% Approx
Brown Grey Very Dark 45428 76% Approx
Beaver Grey Ultra Dark 45241 73% Approx
Mocha Brown Very Dark 45323 68% Approx
Beige Brown Dark 45237 65% Approx

Crescent Colours

Black Coffee 004 54% Fair
Camouflage 063 40% Fair
Cappuccino 007 37% Fair
Balsam Fir 157 35% Fair
Wisconsin Woods 114 34% Fair

Similar Anchor Colors to 905

Closest Anchor threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.

Anchor 905 Brown Grey Dark
Mocha Brown Dark Anchor 1050 Close ΔE 5.33 Hazelnut Brown Dark Anchor 906 Noticeable ΔE 5.9 Shell Grey Very Dark Anchor 401 Noticeable ΔE 6.19 Brown Grey Medium Anchor 904 Noticeable ΔE 6.8 Beaver Grey Very Dark Anchor 273 Noticeable ΔE 7.17 Black Brown Dark Anchor 381 Noticeable ΔE 7.66 Beaver Grey Ultra Dark Anchor 1041 Noticeable ΔE 7.79 Black Brown Medium Dark Anchor 380 Noticeable ΔE 8.48

Working with Anchor 905

On white fabric
14.4:1
On dark fabric
1.5:1
Temperature
warm
Closest to
charcoal

It pops on white and light fabric but nearly disappears on black, so pair it with a light or neutral ground.

Backstitch & outlines

Very dark shades like Anchor 905 (Brown Grey Dark) are workhorses for backstitch outlines, lettering, and fine detail — the depth reads cleanly at a single strand over one.

Color Harmonies for Anchor 905

Anchor threads that pair well with 905, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.

Complementary
Opposite on the color wheel — maximum contrast
905
164 Baby Blue Ultra Very Dark
Analogous
Adjacent hues — smooth, natural transitions
905
846 Khaki Green Dark 401 Shell Grey Very Dark
Triadic
Evenly spaced at 120° — vibrant and balanced
905
683 Misty Green Ultra Very Dark 1035 Antique Blue Very Dark
Monochromatic
Same hue, different lightness — great for shading
905
392 Beige Grey Dark 831 Drab Brown Light 933 Dusty Flesh Very Light

Browns Family

Anchor 905 in context with nearby shades from the browns color family.

905 Brown Grey Dark 905 352 Copper Very Dark 352 375 Hazelnut Brown Medium 375 360 Black Brown Medium 360 277 Gold Dark 277 906 Hazelnut Brown Dark 906 380 Black Brown Medium Dark 380 1050 Mocha Brown Dark 1050 381 Black Brown Dark 381 382 Black Brown Very Dark 382

About Anchor 905

Anchor 905 (Brown Grey Dark) is a dark, moderately saturated shade in the browns family with earthy sienna tones. Expect a bold and dramatic look that suits gingerbread themes, tree trunks, and similar motifs. Cross stitch enthusiasts often reach for this thread when stitching earth tones or animal fur.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Anchor 905 look like?

Anchor 905 (Brown Grey Dark) is a dark shade in the browns family with hex #35271B and RGB 53, 39, 27. Stitchers reach for it in projects featuring rustic designs and leather accents.

Which DMC thread matches Anchor 905?

The closest DMC match for Anchor 905 (Brown Grey Dark) is DMC 3031 (Mocha Brown very dark) with a 76% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include DMC 938 (Coffee Brown ultra dark, 73%) and DMC 3021 (Brown Grey very dark, 72%).

What Anchor colors are similar to 905?

The closest Anchor threads to 905 are 1050 Mocha Brown Dark (ΔE 5.33), 906 Hazelnut Brown Dark (ΔE 5.9), and 401 Shell Grey Very Dark (ΔE 6.19). These are useful substitutes when 905 is unavailable or for building gradients.

When should I use Anchor 905?

Reach for Anchor 905 (Brown Grey Dark) when your project calls for rustic designs, leather accents, horse designs, cinnamon motifs. Its dark character carries both small accents and wider palette work; the harmony picks on this page show natural companions to 905.

Is Anchor 905 (Brown Grey Dark) good for backstitching and outlines?

Yes — very dark shades like 905 are among the most-used backstitch and outlining colors. Work it in a single strand over one for crisp edges, lettering, and fine detail.

Anchor Color Chart DMC ↔ Anchor Conversion