976 — Blue Light
Blues family
Need details on Anchor 976? This medium-light, muted blue shade (Blue Light) is hex #8897AB, RGB 136, 151, 171. 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.
Brand Equivalents for Anchor 976
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 976
Closest Anchor threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with Anchor 976
It has moderate contrast on both light and dark fabric — usable on either, but test a few stitches on your chosen ground first.
Anchor 976 (Blue Light) sits a hair from Anchor 1033 (Antique Blue) (ΔE 2.51) — close enough to blend a strand of each for a smooth gradient or to swap one for the other in a pinch.
Color Harmonies for Anchor 976
Anchor threads that pair well with 976, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Blues Family
Anchor 976 in context with nearby shades from the blues color family.
About Anchor 976
Known as Blue Light, Anchor 976 is a medium-light, muted shade sitting in the blues family with sky blue tones. With a restrained and versatile quality, this thread works beautifully in cool-toned backgrounds and nautical themes. You will find this color at home in patterns featuring winter scenes and forget-me-nots.
Frequently Asked Questions
Anchor 976 — what color is it?
The color of Anchor 976 is Blue Light — a medium-light blue thread (hex #8897AB, RGB 136, 151, 171). It shows up most in porcelain patterns and hydrangea blooms.
What is the DMC equivalent of Anchor 976?
The closest DMC match for Anchor 976 (Blue Light) is DMC 932 (Antique Blue light) with a 76% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include DMC 318 (Steel Grey light, 70%) and DMC 415 (Pearl Grey, 68%).
Which Anchor threads are close to 976?
The closest Anchor threads to 976 are 1033 Antique Blue (ΔE 2.51), 920 Antique Blue Medium Light (ΔE 4.61), and 130 Sky Blue (ΔE 5.21). These are useful substitutes when 976 is unavailable or for building gradients.
What is Anchor 976 good for?
Anchor 976 (Blue Light) is commonly used in cross-stitch projects featuring porcelain patterns, hydrangea blooms, skies, water. Its medium-light tone works well for standalone motifs and as part of larger palettes. This page includes color harmonies and similar shades to pair with 976.
What fabric color works best with Anchor 976 (Blue 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, 976 has a contrast ratio of about 3:1 on white fabric and 7.1:1 on black. As a soft cool shade, its cool cast recedes visually — useful for backgrounds, shadows, water and sky, and calm, restful palettes.