1808 — Shell Grey Dark
Grays family
Looking up Madeira 1808? It's Shell Grey Dark, a medium-dark gray shade (#6D605D / RGB 109, 96, 93). Scroll down for Cosmo, Classic Colorworks, and Weeks Dye Works equivalents ranked by visual similarity, plus 8 close Madeira alternatives and curated color harmonies.
Brand Equivalents for Madeira 1808
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 1808
Closest Madeira threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with Madeira 1808
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 1808
Madeira threads that pair well with 1808, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Grays Family
Madeira 1808 in context with nearby shades from the grays color family.
About Madeira 1808
A medium-dark, subdued entry in the grays family, Madeira 1808 carries the name Shell Grey Dark. The shade reads as muted and intense — a go-to choice for slate textures and rabbit fur. It also turns up in patterns built around shading and outlines.
Frequently Asked Questions
What color is Madeira 1808?
Madeira 1808 is called Shell Grey Dark. It's a medium-dark gray shade (hex #6D605D, RGB 109, 96, 93) in the grays family, commonly used for elephant motifs, cobblestone paths, and similar motifs.
What's the closest DMC match for Madeira 1808?
The closest DMC match for Madeira 1808 (Shell Grey Dark) is DMC 08 (Dark Driftwood) with a 76% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include DMC 07 (Driftwood, 76%) and DMC 451 (Shell Grey dark, 75%).
What's a good substitute for Madeira 1808?
The closest Madeira threads to 1808 are 1802 Steel Grey Light (ΔE 6.51), 1801 Steel Grey Medium (ΔE 7.63), and 1903 Beige Grey Dark (ΔE 8.17). These are useful substitutes when 1808 is unavailable or for building gradients.
What projects use Madeira 1808?
Cross-stitchers pull Madeira 1808 (Shell Grey Dark) for charts featuring elephant motifs, cobblestone paths, industrial designs, wolf patterns. The medium-dark tone reads cleanly on its own and slots into multi-color palettes — see the color harmonies below for pairing ideas.
What fabric color works best with Madeira 1808 (Shell Grey Dark)?
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, 1808 has a contrast ratio of about 6:1 on white fabric and 3.5:1 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.