Classic Colorworks Belle Soie

Tabby

Light Grays family

Need details on Classic Colorworks Tabby? This medium-light, subdued light gray hand-dyed shade is hex #A5A8AA, RGB 165, 168, 170. Cross-brand equivalents in Anchor, Madeira, and J&P Coates are listed below — ranked by perceptual similarity — alongside 8 nearby Classic Colorworks shades and color-theory harmony pairings.

Hex
#A5A8AA
RGB
165, 168, 170
HSL
204°, 3%, 66%
Lab
68.7, -0.7, -1.4
Lightness
66%
Light
Saturation
3%
Neutral
Hue
204°
Family
Light Grays

Brand Equivalents for Classic Colorworks Tabby

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

Classic Colorworks Tabby

Sullivans

Pearl Grey 45091 78% Approx
Pewter Very Light 45483 64% Fair
Beaver Grey Light 45154 54% Fair
Grey Green Light 45271 53% Fair
Antique Blue Very Light 45376 49% Fair

Crescent Colours

Petite Maison 127 67% Approx
Baby Blanket 093 66% Approx
Blue Beadboard 120 65% Approx
Lunar Eclipse 099 59% Fair
Frosted Sage 068 59% Fair

Similar Classic Colorworks Colors to Tabby

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

Working with Classic Colorworks Tabby

On white fabric
2.4:1
On dark fabric
8.8:1
Temperature
neutral
Closest to
silver

It has moderate contrast on both light and dark fabric — usable on either, but test a few stitches on your chosen ground first.

Hand-dyed notes

Hand-dyed threads like Classic Colorworks Tabby are never perfectly flat; expect soft variegation. Stock up in a single dye lot up front, since later batches can read noticeably different.

Color Harmonies for Classic Colorworks Tabby

Classic Colorworks threads that pair well with Tabby, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.

Complementary
Opposite on the color wheel — maximum contrast
Analogous
Adjacent hues — smooth, natural transitions
Triadic
Evenly spaced at 120° — vibrant and balanced
Monochromatic
Same hue, different lightness — great for shading

Light Grays Family

Classic Colorworks Tabby in context with nearby shades from the light grays color family.

About Classic Colorworks Tabby

Classic Colorworks Tabby sits in the light grays family as a medium-light, subdued shade. With a restrained and versatile quality, this thread works beautifully in stone textures and fog and mist. You will find this color at home in patterns featuring silver accents and marble patterns.

Frequently Asked Questions

Classic Colorworks Tabby — what color is it?

Classic Colorworks Tabby is a medium-light light gray thread (hex #A5A8AA, RGB 165, 168, 170). It shows up most in dusty surface highlights and pewter motifs.

What is the DMC equivalent of Classic Colorworks Tabby?

The closest DMC match for Classic Colorworks Tabby is DMC 02 (Tin) with a 90% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include DMC 168 (Pewter very light, 82%) and DMC 415 (Pearl Grey, 78%).

Which Classic Colorworks threads are close to Tabby?

The closest Classic Colorworks threads to Tabby are Cloud (ΔE 5.91), Blue Beadboard (ΔE 6), and Petite Maison (ΔE 6.15). These are useful substitutes when Tabby is unavailable or for building gradients.

What is Classic Colorworks Tabby good for?

Classic Colorworks Tabby is commonly used in cross-stitch projects featuring dusty surface highlights, pewter motifs, subtle shading, metallic effects. 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 Tabby.

Does Classic Colorworks Tabby vary between dye lots?

Some. As a hand-dyed floss, Tabby shifts subtly skein to skein — that gentle variegation is the appeal. Buy enough for a project in one dye lot and stitch in a random order to blend any variation.