DMC 3023 Brown Gray Light
DMC 3023 Brown Gray Light is a light, muted beige with the screen hex #b1aa97. Anchor has no exact twin: its nearest is Anchor 900 Pewter Light at ΔE 3.7 (close), while Madeira offers Madeira 1814 Beaver Gray Very Light at ΔE 1.3 (very close).
Updated
DMC stranded cotton
DMC 3023 Brown Gray Light
#b1aa97 · RGB 177, 170, 151
Closest to DMC 3023 in other brands
- Anchor 900 Pewter Light ΔE 3.7 close
- Madeira 1814 Beaver Gray Very Light ΔE 1.3 very close
- Perler Mocha ΔE 7.1 similar
- Hama 77 Cloudy White ΔE 11.4 loose
- Artkal S SG1 Glow Yellow ΔE 6.7 similar
- Nabbi N06 Tan ΔE 8.9 similar
DMC 3023 color values
| Code | 3023 |
|---|---|
| Name | Brown Gray Light |
| Hex (screen) | #b1aa97 |
| RGB | 177, 170, 151 |
| CIELAB (D65) | L* 69.7, a* -0.8, b* 10.7 |
| HSL | 44°, 14 %, 64 % |
| Color family | Beige and tan, 21 of 26 lightest first |
| Lightness | light (L* 69.7) |
| DMC color card | row 18-12 |
| Nearest Anchor | Anchor 900 Pewter Light, ΔE 3.7 |
DMC 3023 equivalents in other brands
None of these 14 picks is a perfect twin of DMC 3023: the best is Madeira 1814 at ΔE 1.3.
| Brand | Color | Name | ΔE2000 | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchor | 900 | Pewter Light | 3.7 | close |
| Anchor | 391 | Linen | 6.3 | similar |
| Anchor | 397 | Gray Light | 6.6 | similar |
| Madeira | 1814 | Beaver Gray Very Light | 1.3 | very close |
| Madeira | 1511 | Gray Green Very Light | 2.2 | very close |
| Madeira | 1902 | Beige Gray Medium | 2.3 | very close |
| Perler | Mocha | code 80-15239 | 7.1 | similar |
| Perler | Tan | code 80-19035 | 7.8 | similar |
| Hama | 77 | Cloudy White | 11.4 | loose |
| Hama | 19 | Clear | 12.7 | loose |
| Artkal S | SG1 | Glow Yellow | 6.7 | similar |
| Artkal S | S113 | Khaki | 7.3 | similar |
| Nabbi | N06 | Tan | 8.9 | similar |
| Nabbi | N08 | Ash | 10.5 | loose |
DMC shades closest to DMC 3023
No other DMC color comes within ΔE 3 of DMC 3023; the nearest, DMC 647 Beaver Gray Medium, sits at ΔE 4.9.
| Color | Name | Hex | ΔE2000 | Lighter or darker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 647 | Beaver Gray Medium | #b0a69c | 4.9 | slightly more muted |
| 648 | Beaver Gray Light | #bcb4ac | 6.1 | a little lighter and slightly more muted |
| 3032 | Mocha Brown Medium | #b39f8b | 6.8 | a little darker and slightly more saturated |
| 523 | Fern Green Light | #abb197 | 7.0 | slightly more saturated |
| 642 | Beige Gray Dark | #a49878 | 7.1 | darker and more saturated |
| 3864 | Mocha Beige Light | #cbb69c | 7.3 | lighter and slightly more saturated |
| 842 | Beige Brown Very Light | #d1baa1 | 8.6 | lighter and slightly more saturated |
| 318 | Steel Gray Light | #ababab | 8.7 | more muted |
Shading DMC 3023: lighter and darker beige steps
4 lighter steps and 4 darker steps from the DMC beige and tan family, L* from 78 to 66.
| Step | Color | Name | L* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 lighter | 3782 | Mocha Brown Light | 77.5 |
| 3 lighter | 842 | Beige Brown Very Light | 76.8 |
| 2 lighter | 3864 | Mocha Beige Light | 75.2 |
| 1 lighter | 372 | Mustard Light | 75.1 |
| this color | 3023 | Brown Gray Light | 69.7 |
| 1 darker | 422 | Hazelnut Brown Light | 68.2 |
| 2 darker | 3032 | Mocha Brown Medium | 66.7 |
| 3 darker | 612 | Drab Brown Light | 65.9 |
| 4 darker | 841 | Beige Brown Light | 65.7 |
Blends that stitch up close to DMC 3023
One strand each of DMC 452 and DMC 522 models at ΔE 1.6, closer than any single DMC shade (best single: DMC 647, ΔE 4.9).
| Recipe (2 strands) | Blend hex | ΔE to DMC 3023 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 × DMC 452 Shell Gray Medium + 1 × DMC 522 Fern Green | #ada998 | 1.6 |
| 1 × DMC 3032 Mocha Brown Medium + 1 × DMC 523 Fern Green Light | #afa891 | 1.7 |
| 1 × DMC 648 Beaver Gray Light + 1 × DMC 642 Beige Gray Dark | #b1a795 | 1.9 |
Outline and backstitch colors for DMC 3023
Ranked by WCAG contrast ratio against #b1aa97; 3:1 or more keeps a backstitch line readable.
How to use DMC 3023
Substituting DMC 3023 takes care: Anchor 900 is practically the same in lightness and saturation (ΔE 3.7), and Madeira 1814 is practically the same in lightness and saturation (ΔE 1.3). Stitch a small test on your fabric before you commit a whole area.
DMC 3023 is number 21 of 26 in the DMC beige and tan family, counted from the lightest. For shading, step up to DMC 372 Mustard Light and down to DMC 422 Hazelnut Brown Light. No other DMC shade sits within ΔE 3, so it is hard to confuse with the rest of the card.
DMC 3023 glows on black or navy Aida (contrast 9.1:1 against black) but turns subtle on white fabric (2.3:1).
For a fuse-bead version of the same design, the nearest beads are Perler Mocha (ΔE 7.1), Hama 77 Cloudy White (ΔE 11.4) and Artkal S SG1 Glow Yellow (ΔE 6.7); beads come in fewer shades than DMC, so expect a similar shade at best.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Anchor equivalent of DMC 3023?
Anchor 900 Pewter Light is the closest Anchor match to DMC 3023 Brown Gray Light (ΔE 3.7, close). Runners-up: Anchor 391 (ΔE 6.3) and Anchor 397 (ΔE 6.6).
What color is DMC 3023?
DMC 3023 Brown Gray Light is a light, muted beige in the beige and tan family: hex #b1aa97, RGB 177, 170, 151, L* 69.7. These are screen values for a dyed thread, so check a real skein in daylight.
What can I use instead of DMC 3023?
Inside DMC, DMC 647 Beaver Gray Medium is nearest (ΔE 4.9). From other brands, Anchor 900 (ΔE 3.7) or Madeira 1814 (ΔE 1.3). A 1+1 blend of DMC 452 and DMC 522 models at ΔE 1.6.
What is DMC 3023 in Perler beads?
Perler Mocha (#c8b693) is the nearest Perler bead at ΔE 7.1 (similar). In Hama the nearest is Hama 77 Cloudy White (ΔE 11.4).
What is the Madeira equivalent of DMC 3023?
Madeira 1814 Beaver Gray Very Light at ΔE 1.3 (very close), then Madeira 1511 at ΔE 2.2.
Related
Nearest DMC colors
- DMC 647 Beaver Gray Medium ΔE 4.9
- DMC 3032 Mocha Brown Medium ΔE 6.8
- DMC 523 Fern Green Light ΔE 7.0
- DMC 642 Beige Gray Dark ΔE 7.1
- DMC 842 Beige Brown Very Light ΔE 8.6
DMC 3023 in other brands
- Anchor 900 Pewter Light ΔE 3.7
- Madeira 1814 Beaver Gray Very Light ΔE 1.3
- Perler Mocha ΔE 7.1
- Hama 77 Cloudy White ΔE 11.4
- Artkal S SG1 Glow Yellow ΔE 6.7
- Nabbi N06 Tan ΔE 8.9