942 — Tan Light
Oranges family
Anchor 942 (Tan Light) is a medium-light, vivid orange shade with hex code #D9AB82 and RGB values 217, 171, 130. Below you'll find the closest Valdani, Crescent Colours, and DMC equivalents — ranked by visual color similarity — plus 8 similar Anchor shades and color harmony pairings.
Brand Equivalents for Anchor 942
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 942
Closest Anchor threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with Anchor 942
It has moderate contrast on both light and dark fabric — usable on either, but test a few stitches on your chosen ground first.
Its warm mid-tone sits in the skin-tone range, so Anchor 942 (Tan Light) turns up in portraits, figures, and faces — usually blended with a lighter and a darker neighbor for shading.
Because Anchor 347 (Chocolate Light) is so near (ΔE 2.03), the pair makes a natural two-step gradient — handy for shading skin, petals, or skies without a hard seam.
Color Harmonies for Anchor 942
Anchor threads that pair well with 942, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Oranges Family
Anchor 942 in context with nearby shades from the oranges color family.
About Anchor 942
Anchor 942 is the floss known as Tan Light: a vivid, medium-light member of the oranges family with warm tangerine tones. Its balanced and lively presence shines in fox designs and fall harvest scenes alike. Pull this thread for monarch butterflies or persimmon patterns when you need a dependable shade.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Anchor 942 look like?
Anchor 942 (Tan Light) is a medium-light shade in the oranges family with hex #D9AB82 and RGB 217, 171, 130. Stitchers reach for it in projects featuring seasonal designs and pumpkins.
Which DMC thread matches Anchor 942?
The closest DMC match for Anchor 942 (Tan Light) is DMC 738 (Tan very light) with a 86% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include DMC 3856 (Mahogany ultra very light, 77%) and DMC 437 (Tan light, 77%).
What Anchor colors are similar to 942?
The closest Anchor threads to 942 are 347 Chocolate Light (ΔE 2.03), 367 Coffee Light (ΔE 3.2), and 881 Cream Dark (ΔE 4.29). These are useful substitutes when 942 is unavailable or for building gradients.
When should I use Anchor 942?
Reach for Anchor 942 (Tan Light) when your project calls for seasonal designs, pumpkins, marigolds, fall wreaths. Its medium-light character carries both small accents and wider palette work; the harmony picks on this page show natural companions to 942.
What fabric color works best with Anchor 942 (Tan Light)?
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, 942 has a contrast ratio of about 2.1:1 on white fabric and 10.1:1 on black. As a warm shade, its warm cast advances toward the viewer — good for focal points, highlights, and cozy, inviting palettes.