DMC 159 Blue Gray Light
DMC 159 Blue Gray Light is a light gray with the screen hex #c7cad7. Anchor has no exact twin: its nearest is Anchor 120 Blueberry Light at ΔE 6.7 (similar), while Madeira offers Madeira 1804 Pearl Gray Very Light at ΔE 5.3 (close).
Updated
DMC stranded cotton
DMC 159 Blue Gray Light
#c7cad7 · RGB 199, 202, 215
Closest to DMC 159 in other brands
- Anchor 120 Blueberry Light ΔE 6.7 similar
- Madeira 1804 Pearl Gray Very Light ΔE 5.3 close
- Perler Light Grey ΔE 9.5 similar
- Hama 57 Blue (Glow in the Dark) ΔE 4.0 close
- Artkal S S153 Pale Lilac ΔE 6.4 similar
- Nabbi N10 Light Grey ΔE 7.2 similar
DMC 159 color values
| Code | 159 |
|---|---|
| Name | Blue Gray Light |
| Hex (screen) | #c7cad7 |
| RGB | 199, 202, 215 |
| CIELAB (D65) | L* 81.5, a* 1.4, b* -6.8 |
| HSL | 229°, 17 %, 81 % |
| Color family | Gray, 14 of 34 lightest first |
| Lightness | light (L* 81.5) |
| DMC color card | row 07-01 |
| Nearest Anchor | Anchor 120 Blueberry Light, ΔE 6.7 |
DMC 159 equivalents in other brands
None of these 14 picks is a perfect twin of DMC 159: the best is Madeira 1804 at ΔE 5.3.
| Brand | Color | Name | ΔE2000 | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchor | 120 | Blueberry Light | 6.7 | similar |
| Anchor | 234 | Charcoal Gray Light | 8.2 | similar |
| Anchor | 1032 | Antique Blue Very Light | 8.9 | similar |
| Madeira | 1804 | Pearl Gray Very Light | 5.3 | close |
| Madeira | 1708 | Blue Gray Light | 6.8 | similar |
| Madeira | 901 | Blue Violet Very Light | 9.5 | similar |
| Perler | Light Grey | code 80-15181 | 9.5 | similar |
| Perler | White | code 80-19001 | 10.9 | loose |
| Hama | 57 | Blue (Glow in the Dark) | 4.0 | close |
| Hama | 70 | Light Grey | 8.3 | similar |
| Artkal S | S153 | Pale Lilac | 6.4 | similar |
| Artkal S | S78 | Ash Grey | 7.6 | similar |
| Nabbi | N10 | Light Grey | 7.2 | similar |
| Nabbi | N15 | White | 11.5 | loose |
DMC shades closest to DMC 159
No other DMC color comes within ΔE 3 of DMC 159; the nearest, DMC 800 Delft Blue Pale, sits at ΔE 3.8.
| Color | Name | Hex | ΔE2000 | Lighter or darker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 800 | Delft Blue Pale | #c0ccde | 3.8 | slightly more saturated |
| 157 | Cornflower Blue Very Light | #bbc3d9 | 4.1 | a little darker and slightly more saturated |
| 3752 | Antique Blue Very Light | #c7d1db | 4.3 | a little lighter |
| 3747 | Blue Violet Very Light | #d3d7ed | 4.7 | a little lighter and slightly more saturated |
| 415 | Pearl Gray | #d3d3d6 | 5.1 | a little lighter and slightly more muted |
| 168 | Pewter Very Light | #d1d1d1 | 6.4 | a little lighter and more muted |
| 02 | Tin | #d7d7d8 | 6.4 | a little lighter and more muted |
| 03 | Tin Medium | #b8b8bb | 6.5 | darker and slightly more muted |
Shading DMC 159: lighter and darker gray steps
4 lighter steps and 4 darker steps from the DMC gray family, L* from 86 to 70.
| Step | Color | Name | L* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 lighter | 02 | Tin | 86.0 |
| 3 lighter | 415 | Pearl Gray | 84.6 |
| 2 lighter | 168 | Pewter Very Light | 83.8 |
| 1 lighter | 3752 | Antique Blue Very Light | 83.4 |
| this color | 159 | Blue Gray Light | 81.5 |
| 1 darker | 03 | Tin Medium | 74.9 |
| 2 darker | 452 | Shell Gray Medium | 73.9 |
| 3 darker | 04 | Tin Dark | 71.2 |
| 4 darker | 318 | Steel Gray Light | 70.0 |
Blends that stitch up close to DMC 159
One strand each of DMC 157 and DMC 415 models at ΔE 0.5, closer than any single DMC shade (best single: DMC 800, ΔE 3.8).
| Recipe (2 strands) | Blend hex | ΔE to DMC 159 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 × DMC 157 Cornflower Blue Very Light + 1 × DMC 415 Pearl Gray | #c7cbd8 | 0.5 |
| 1 × DMC 157 Cornflower Blue Very Light + 1 × DMC 02 Tin | #cacdd9 | 0.8 |
| 1 × DMC 3747 Blue Violet Very Light + 1 × DMC 03 Tin Medium | #c6c8d6 | 0.9 |
Outline and backstitch colors for DMC 159
Ranked by WCAG contrast ratio against #c7cad7; 3:1 or more keeps a backstitch line readable.
How to use DMC 159
Substituting DMC 159 takes care: Anchor 120 is a little darker and more saturated (ΔE 6.7), and Madeira 1804 is a little lighter and slightly more muted (ΔE 5.3). Stitch a small test on your fabric before you commit a whole area.
DMC 159 is number 14 of 34 in the DMC gray family, counted from the lightest. For shading, step up to DMC 3752 Antique Blue Very Light and down to DMC 03 Tin Medium. No other DMC shade sits within ΔE 3, so it is hard to confuse with the rest of the card.
DMC 159 glows on black or navy Aida (contrast 12.9:1 against black) but almost disappears on white fabric (1.6:1).
For a fuse-bead version of the same design, the nearest beads are Perler Light Grey (ΔE 9.5), Hama 57 Blue (Glow in the Dark) (ΔE 4.0) and Artkal S S153 Pale Lilac (ΔE 6.4); beads come in fewer shades than DMC, so expect a close match at best.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Anchor equivalent of DMC 159?
Anchor 120 Blueberry Light is the closest Anchor match to DMC 159 Blue Gray Light (ΔE 6.7, similar). Runners-up: Anchor 234 (ΔE 8.2) and Anchor 1032 (ΔE 8.9).
What color is DMC 159?
DMC 159 Blue Gray Light is a light gray in the gray family: hex #c7cad7, RGB 199, 202, 215, L* 81.5. These are screen values for a dyed thread, so check a real skein in daylight.
What can I use instead of DMC 159?
Inside DMC, DMC 800 Delft Blue Pale is nearest (ΔE 3.8). From other brands, Anchor 120 (ΔE 6.7) or Madeira 1804 (ΔE 5.3). A 1+1 blend of DMC 157 and DMC 415 models at ΔE 0.5.
What is DMC 159 in Perler beads?
Perler Light Grey (#b3bab8) is the nearest Perler bead at ΔE 9.5 (similar). In Hama the nearest is Hama 57 Blue (Glow in the Dark) (ΔE 4.0).
What is the Madeira equivalent of DMC 159?
Madeira 1804 Pearl Gray Very Light at ΔE 5.3 (close), then Madeira 1708 at ΔE 6.8.
Related
Nearest DMC colors
- DMC 800 Delft Blue Pale ΔE 3.8
- DMC 157 Cornflower Blue Very Light ΔE 4.1
- DMC 3752 Antique Blue Very Light ΔE 4.3
- DMC 3747 Blue Violet Very Light ΔE 4.7
- DMC 168 Pewter Very Light ΔE 6.4
DMC 159 in other brands
- Madeira 1804 Pearl Gray Very Light ΔE 5.3
- Perler Light Grey ΔE 9.5
- Hama 57 Blue (Glow in the Dark) ΔE 4.0
- Artkal S S153 Pale Lilac ΔE 6.4
- Nabbi N10 Light Grey ΔE 7.2