DMC 803 Baby Blue Ultra Very Dark
On screen, DMC 803 Baby Blue Ultra Very Dark reads as a dark, soft blue (#2c597c). Anchor has no exact twin: its nearest is Anchor 979 Sea Blue Dark at ΔE 3.5 (close), while Madeira offers Madeira 1712 Dusty Blue Dark at ΔE 2.9 (very close).
Updated
DMC stranded cotton
DMC 803 Baby Blue Ultra Very Dark
#2c597c · RGB 44, 89, 124
Closest to DMC 803 in other brands
- Anchor 979 Sea Blue Dark ΔE 3.5 close
- Madeira 1712 Dusty Blue Dark ΔE 2.9 very close
- Perler Dark Blue ΔE 5.1 close
- Hama 41 Fluorescent Blue ΔE 6.9 similar
- Artkal S S106 Wegdewood Blue ΔE 5.5 close
- Nabbi N17 Bright Blue ΔE 13.3 loose
DMC 803 color values
| Code | 803 |
|---|---|
| Name | Baby Blue Ultra Very Dark |
| Hex (screen) | #2c597c |
| RGB | 44, 89, 124 |
| CIELAB (D65) | L* 36.2, a* -3.8, b* -24.4 |
| HSL | 206°, 48 %, 33 % |
| Color family | Blue, 42 of 52 lightest first |
| Lightness | dark (L* 36.2) |
| DMC color card | row 07-12 |
| Nearest Anchor | Anchor 979 Sea Blue Dark, ΔE 3.5 |
DMC 803 equivalents in other brands
None of these 14 picks is a perfect twin of DMC 803: the best is Madeira 1712 at ΔE 2.9.
| Brand | Color | Name | ΔE2000 | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchor | 979 | Sea Blue Dark | 3.5 | close |
| Anchor | 162 | Sapphire Medium Dark | 5.7 | close |
| Anchor | 137 | Wedgewood Medium | 6.0 | similar |
| Madeira | 1712 | Dusty Blue Dark | 2.9 | very close |
| Madeira | 1011 | Blue Dark | 3.9 | close |
| Madeira | 1010 | Blue Very Dark | 4.1 | close |
| Perler | Dark Blue | code 80-19008 | 5.1 | close |
| Perler | Denim | code 80-15253 | 7.2 | similar |
| Hama | 41 | Fluorescent Blue | 6.9 | similar |
| Hama | 36 | Neon Blue | 7.1 | similar |
| Artkal S | S106 | Wegdewood Blue | 5.5 | close |
| Artkal S | S103 | Caribbian Blue | 5.6 | close |
| Nabbi | N17 | Bright Blue | 13.3 | loose |
| Nabbi | N01 | Black | 15.9 | loose |
DMC shades closest to DMC 803
No other DMC color comes within ΔE 3 of DMC 803; the nearest, DMC 312 Baby Blue Very Dark, sits at ΔE 4.6.
| Color | Name | Hex | ΔE2000 | Lighter or darker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 312 | Baby Blue Very Dark | #35668b | 4.6 | lighter |
| 930 | Antique Blue Dark | #455c71 | 5.2 | a little lighter and more muted |
| 824 | Blue Very Dark | #396987 | 6.0 | lighter and slightly more muted |
| 798 | Delft Blue Dark | #466a8e | 6.6 | lighter |
| 311 | Wedgewood Ultra Very Dark | #1c5066 | 6.8 | a little darker and slightly more muted |
| 797 | Royal Blue | #13477d | 6.8 | darker and more saturated |
| 3750 | Antique Blue Very Dark | #384c5e | 7.2 | a little darker and more muted |
| 3842 | Wedgewood Very Dark | #32667c | 7.6 | a little lighter and slightly more muted |
Shading DMC 803: lighter and darker blue steps
4 lighter steps and 4 darker steps from the DMC blue family, L* from 44 to 27.
| Step | Color | Name | L* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 lighter | 798 | Delft Blue Dark | 43.6 |
| 3 lighter | 824 | Blue Very Dark | 42.3 |
| 2 lighter | 312 | Baby Blue Very Dark | 41.4 |
| 1 lighter | 930 | Antique Blue Dark | 38.0 |
| this color | 803 | Baby Blue Ultra Very Dark | 36.2 |
| 1 darker | 311 | Wedgewood Ultra Very Dark | 31.7 |
| 2 darker | 3750 | Antique Blue Very Dark | 31.4 |
| 3 darker | 797 | Royal Blue | 29.7 |
| 4 darker | 796 | Royal Blue Dark | 26.7 |
Blends that stitch up close to DMC 803
One strand each of DMC 824 and DMC 796 models at ΔE 0.4, closer than any single DMC shade (best single: DMC 312, ΔE 4.6).
| Recipe (2 strands) | Blend hex | ΔE to DMC 803 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 × DMC 824 Blue Very Dark + 1 × DMC 796 Royal Blue Dark | #2a587b | 0.4 |
| 1 × DMC 797 Royal Blue + 1 × DMC 3842 Wedgewood Very Dark | #26587d | 0.8 |
| 1 × DMC 517 Wedgewood Dark + 1 × DMC 823 Navy Blue Dark | #305b7b | 1.1 |
Outline and backstitch colors for DMC 803
Ranked by WCAG contrast ratio against #2c597c; 3:1 or more keeps a backstitch line readable.
Stitching with DMC 803
Substituting DMC 803 takes care: Anchor 979 is a little darker (ΔE 3.5), and Madeira 1712 is slightly more muted (ΔE 2.9). Stitch a small test on your fabric before you commit a whole area.
DMC 803 is number 42 of 52 in the DMC blue family, counted from the lightest. For shading, step up to DMC 930 Antique Blue Dark and down to DMC 311 Wedgewood Ultra Very Dark. No other DMC shade sits within ΔE 3, so it is hard to confuse with the rest of the card.
DMC 803 stands out on white or cream fabric (contrast 7.4:1 against white) and turns subtle on black Aida (2.8:1).
For a fuse-bead version of the same design, the nearest beads are Perler Dark Blue (ΔE 5.1), Hama 41 Fluorescent Blue (ΔE 6.9) and Artkal S S106 Wegdewood Blue (ΔE 5.5); beads come in fewer shades than DMC, so expect a close match at best.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Anchor equivalent of DMC 803?
Anchor 979 Sea Blue Dark is the closest Anchor match to DMC 803 Baby Blue Ultra Very Dark (ΔE 3.5, close). Runners-up: Anchor 162 (ΔE 5.7) and Anchor 137 (ΔE 6.0).
What color is DMC 803?
DMC 803 Baby Blue Ultra Very Dark is a dark, soft blue in the blue family: hex #2c597c, RGB 44, 89, 124, L* 36.2. These are screen values for a dyed thread, so check a real skein in daylight.
What can I use instead of DMC 803?
Inside DMC, DMC 312 Baby Blue Very Dark is nearest (ΔE 4.6). From other brands, Anchor 979 (ΔE 3.5) or Madeira 1712 (ΔE 2.9). A 1+1 blend of DMC 824 and DMC 796 models at ΔE 0.4.
What is DMC 803 in Perler beads?
Perler Dark Blue (#0e5092) is the nearest Perler bead at ΔE 5.1 (close). In Hama the nearest is Hama 41 Fluorescent Blue (ΔE 6.9).
What is the Madeira equivalent of DMC 803?
Madeira 1712 Dusty Blue Dark at ΔE 2.9 (very close), then Madeira 1011 at ΔE 3.9.
Related
Nearest DMC colors
- DMC 930 Antique Blue Dark ΔE 5.2
- DMC 798 Delft Blue Dark ΔE 6.6
- DMC 311 Wedgewood Ultra Very Dark ΔE 6.8
- DMC 797 Royal Blue ΔE 6.8
- DMC 3750 Antique Blue Very Dark ΔE 7.2
- DMC 3842 Wedgewood Very Dark ΔE 7.6
DMC 803 in other brands
- Anchor 979 Sea Blue Dark ΔE 3.5
- Madeira 1712 Dusty Blue Dark ΔE 2.9
- Perler Dark Blue ΔE 5.1
- Hama 41 Fluorescent Blue ΔE 6.9
- Artkal S S106 Wegdewood Blue ΔE 5.5
- Nabbi N17 Bright Blue ΔE 13.3