1801 — Steel Grey Medium
Grays family
Below: Madeira 1801 (Steel Grey Medium), a medium-dark, subdued gray shade with hex #555252 and RGB 85, 82, 82. Find its closest Gentle Art Sampler, Valdani, and Crescent Colours matches ranked by visual similarity, plus 8 similar Madeira shades and a full set of color harmony picks.
Brand Equivalents for Madeira 1801
Top 5 closest matches in each brand, ranked by visual color similarity. How matching works
DMC
Anchor
J&P Coates
Sullivans
Classic Colorworks
Weeks Dye Works
Gentle Art Sampler
Valdani
Crescent Colours
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
Madeira 1801 in context with nearby shades from the grays color family.
About Madeira 1801
Known as Steel Grey Medium, Madeira 1801 is a medium-dark, subdued shade sitting in the grays family. The somber and rich 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-dark gray thread (hex #555252, RGB 85, 82, 82). 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 535 (Ash Grey very light) with a 75% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include DMC 04 (Dark Tin, 68%) and DMC 3787 (Brown Grey dark, 65%).
Which Madeira threads are close to 1801?
The closest Madeira threads to 1801 are 1903 Beige Grey Dark (ΔE 6.7), 1714 Steel Grey Dark (ΔE 6.88), and 1808 Shell Grey Dark (ΔE 7.63). 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-dark 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 7.7:1 on white fabric and 2.7:1 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.