1801 — Steel Grey Medium
Grays family#89878A
Below: Madeira 1801 (Steel Grey Medium), a medium, subdued gray shade with hex #89878A and RGB 137, 135, 138. Find its closest Gentle Art Sampler, Valdani, and Crescent Colors matches ranked by visual similarity, plus 8 similar Madeira shades and a full set of color harmony picks.
About Madeira 1801
Madeira Mouliné Sticktwist
- Fiber
- 100% cotton
- Strands
- 6 strands
- Sold as
- 10 m
Brand Equivalents for Madeira 1801
The five closest matches in each brand, ranked by CIEDE2000 perceptual color difference.
DMC
Anchor
J&P Coates
Sullivans
Classic Colorworks
Weeks Dye Works
Gentle Art Sampler
Valdani
Crescent Colors
Similar Madeira Colors to 1801
Closest Madeira threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with Madeira 1801
It has moderate contrast on both light and dark fabric — usable on either, but test a few stitches on your chosen ground first.
Color Harmonies for Madeira 1801
Madeira threads that pair well with 1801, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Grays Family
Madeira1801 in context with nearby shades from the grays color family.
About Madeira 1801
Known as Steel Grey Medium, Madeira 1801 is a medium, subdued shade sitting in the grays family. The restrained and earthy mood of this color makes it a natural fit for neutral backgrounds and castle walls. Expect to see it used in elephant motifs and cobblestone paths across many cross-stitch charts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Madeira 1801 — what color is it?
The color of Madeira 1801 is Steel Grey Medium — a medium gray thread (hex #89878A, RGB 137, 135, 138). It shows up most in slate textures and rabbit fur.
What is the DMC equivalent of Madeira 1801?
The closest DMC match for Madeira 1801 (Steel Grey Medium) is DMC 03 (Medium Tin) with a 85% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include DMC 318 (Steel Grey light, 68%) and DMC 452 (Shell Grey medium, 58%).
Which Madeira threads are close to 1801?
The closest Madeira threads to 1801 are 1808 Shell Grey Dark (ΔE 4.12), 2414 Medium Tin (ΔE 6.43), and 1807 Shell Grey Medium (ΔE 8.25). These are useful substitutes when 1801 is unavailable or for building gradients.
What is Madeira 1801 good for?
Madeira 1801 (Steel Grey Medium) is commonly used in cross-stitch projects featuring slate textures, rabbit fur, shading, outlines. Its medium tone works well for standalone motifs and as part of larger palettes. This page includes color harmonies and similar shades to pair with 1801.
What fabric color works best with Madeira 1801 (Steel Grey Medium)?
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, 1801 has a contrast ratio of about 3.6:1 on white fabric and 5.9:1 on black. As a neutral shade, as a near-neutral, it plays quietly with almost any palette and works well as a background or shading tone.