Anchor 159 Sapphire Light
Anchor 159 Sapphire Light is a light, soft blue with the screen hex #aacae2. The closest DMC thread is DMC 813 Blue Light, very close at ΔE 2.5; in Madeira, use Madeira 1002 Antique Blue Light (ΔE 6.7, similar).
Updated
Anchor stranded cotton
Anchor 159 Sapphire Light
#aacae2 · RGB 170, 202, 226
Closest to Anchor 159 in other brands
- DMC 813 Blue Light ΔE 2.5 very close
- Madeira 1002 Antique Blue Light ΔE 6.7 similar
- Perler Robin's Egg ΔE 7.3 similar
- Hama 57 Blue (Glow in the Dark) ΔE 6.7 similar
- Artkal S S44 Sky Blue ΔE 3.9 close
- Nabbi N28 Sky ΔE 6.1 similar
Anchor 159 color values
| Code | 159 |
|---|---|
| Name | Sapphire Light |
| Hex (screen) | #aacae2 |
| RGB | 170, 202, 226 |
| CIELAB (D65) | L* 79.8, a* -5.4, b* -15.4 |
| HSL | 206°, 49 %, 78 % |
| Color family | Blue, 1 of 59 lightest first |
| Lightness | light (L* 79.8) |
| Nearest DMC | DMC 813 Blue Light, ΔE 2.5 |
Anchor 159 equivalents in other brands
None of these 14 picks is a perfect twin of Anchor 159: the best is DMC 813 at ΔE 2.5.
| Brand | Color | Name | ΔE2000 | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMC | 813 | Blue Light | 2.5 | very close |
| DMC | 3325 | Baby Blue Light | 2.8 | very close |
| DMC | 827 | Blue Very Light | 5.5 | close |
| Madeira | 1002 | Antique Blue Light | 6.7 | similar |
| Madeira | 1001 | Antique Blue Very Light | 7.7 | similar |
| Madeira | 1708 | Blue Gray Light | 8.4 | similar |
| Perler | Robin's Egg | code 80-15202 | 7.3 | similar |
| Perler | Mist | code 80-15215 | 8.2 | similar |
| Hama | 57 | Blue (Glow in the Dark) | 6.7 | similar |
| Hama | 70 | Light Grey | 7.7 | similar |
| Artkal S | S44 | Sky Blue | 3.9 | close |
| Artkal S | S135 | Moonlight Blue | 8.5 | similar |
| Nabbi | N28 | Sky | 6.1 | similar |
| Nabbi | N23 | Medium Blue | 13.2 | loose |
Anchor shades closest to Anchor 159
No other Anchor color comes within ΔE 3 of Anchor 159; the nearest, Anchor 144 Delft Blue Very Light, sits at ΔE 4.2.
| Color | Name | Hex | ΔE2000 | Lighter or darker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 144 | Delft Blue Very Light | #9dbdcf | 4.2 | a little darker and slightly more muted |
| 1032 | Antique Blue Very Light | #abc2cf | 4.4 | a little darker and slightly more muted |
| 120 | Blueberry Light | #b3c5df | 5.2 | practically the same in lightness and saturation |
| 160 | Sapphire Medium Light | #9ecddd | 6.1 | practically the same in lightness and saturation |
| 1096 | Blue Violet Light | #9fb3c1 | 6.9 | darker and more muted |
| 128 | Blue Light | #c7dee9 | 6.9 | lighter and more muted |
| 9159 | Glacier Blue | #b7dae4 | 7.2 | lighter and slightly more muted |
| 975 | Sea Blue Light | #aac5cb | 7.3 | a little darker and more muted |
Shading Anchor 159: lighter and darker blue steps
0 lighter steps and 4 darker steps from the Anchor blue family, L* from 80 to 68.
Blends that stitch up close to Anchor 159
One strand each of Anchor 120 and Anchor 160 models at ΔE 1.2, closer than any single Anchor shade (best single: Anchor 144, ΔE 4.2).
| Recipe (2 strands) | Blend hex | ΔE to Anchor 159 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 × Anchor 120 Blueberry Light + 1 × Anchor 160 Sapphire Medium Light | #a9c9de | 1.2 |
| 1 × Anchor 1090 Electric Blue + 1 × Anchor 847 Blue Mist Very Light | #a2c6e1 | 1.6 |
| 1 × Anchor 128 Blue Light + 1 × Anchor 129 Blue | #abc6db | 1.6 |
Outline and backstitch colors for Anchor 159
Ranked by WCAG contrast ratio against #aacae2; 3:1 or more keeps a backstitch line readable.
| Role | Color | Name | Contrast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonal outline (blue) | 152 | Delft Blue Very Dark | 10.6:1 |
| Strongest contrast | 403 | Black | 12.3:1 |
| Softer gray or brown line | 889 | Sand Stone Medium Dark | 4.5:1 |
How to use Anchor 159
DMC 813 is the practical DMC substitute for Anchor 159. It is a little darker, a ΔE of 2.5 that shows only side by side, so keep to one brand inside a single shaded area.
Anchor 159 is number 1 of 59 in the Anchor blue family, counted from the lightest. Nothing in the family is lighter nearby; shade down with Anchor 1032 Antique Blue Very Light. No other Anchor shade sits within ΔE 3, so it is hard to confuse with the rest of the card.
Anchor 159 glows on black or navy Aida (contrast 12.3:1 against black) but almost disappears on white fabric (1.7:1).
For a fuse-bead version of the same design, the nearest beads are Perler Robin's Egg (ΔE 7.3), Hama 57 Blue (Glow in the Dark) (ΔE 6.7) and Artkal S S44 Sky Blue (ΔE 3.9); beads come in fewer shades than Anchor, so expect a close match at best.
Frequently asked questions
What is the DMC equivalent of Anchor 159?
DMC 813 Blue Light is the closest DMC match to Anchor 159 Sapphire Light (ΔE 2.5, very close). Runners-up: DMC 3325 (ΔE 2.8) and DMC 827 (ΔE 5.5).
What color is Anchor 159?
Anchor 159 Sapphire Light is a light, soft blue in the blue family: hex #aacae2, RGB 170, 202, 226, L* 79.8. These are screen values for a dyed thread, so check a real skein in daylight.
What can I use instead of Anchor 159?
Inside Anchor, Anchor 144 Delft Blue Very Light is nearest (ΔE 4.2). From other brands, DMC 813 (ΔE 2.5) or Madeira 1002 (ΔE 6.7). A 1+1 blend of Anchor 120 and Anchor 160 models at ΔE 1.2.
What is Anchor 159 in Perler beads?
Perler Robin's Egg (#a9cdd5) is the nearest Perler bead at ΔE 7.3 (similar). In Hama the nearest is Hama 57 Blue (Glow in the Dark) (ΔE 6.7).
What is the Madeira equivalent of Anchor 159?
Madeira 1002 Antique Blue Light at ΔE 6.7 (similar), then Madeira 1001 at ΔE 7.7.
Related
Nearest Anchor colors
- Anchor 144 Delft Blue Very Light ΔE 4.2
- Anchor 1032 Antique Blue Very Light ΔE 4.4
- Anchor 160 Sapphire Medium Light ΔE 6.1
- Anchor 1096 Blue Violet Light ΔE 6.9
- Anchor 9159 Glacier Blue ΔE 7.2
- Anchor 975 Sea Blue Light ΔE 7.3
Anchor 159 in other brands
- Madeira 1002 Antique Blue Light ΔE 6.7
- Perler Robin's Egg ΔE 7.3
- Hama 57 Blue (Glow in the Dark) ΔE 6.7
- Artkal S S44 Sky Blue ΔE 3.9
- Nabbi N28 Sky ΔE 6.1