DMC 809 Delft Blue
DMC 809 Delft Blue is a light, soft blue with the screen hex #94a8c6. The closest Anchor thread is Anchor 117 Thistle Light, very close at ΔE 2.0; in Madeira, use Madeira 909 Delft (ΔE 1.0, very close).
Updated
DMC stranded cotton
DMC 809 Delft Blue
#94a8c6 · RGB 148, 168, 198
Closest to DMC 809 in other brands
- Anchor 117 Thistle Light ΔE 2.0 very close
- Madeira 909 Delft ΔE 1.0 very close
- Perler Blueberry Creme ΔE 6.3 similar
- Hama 70 Light Grey ΔE 7.0 similar
- Artkal S SE2 Raincloud ΔE 3.7 close
- Nabbi N23 Medium Blue ΔE 8.7 similar
DMC 809 color values
| Code | 809 |
|---|---|
| Name | Delft Blue |
| Hex (screen) | #94a8c6 |
| RGB | 148, 168, 198 |
| CIELAB (D65) | L* 68.3, a* -0.2, b* -17.6 |
| HSL | 216°, 30 %, 68 % |
| Color family | Blue, 15 of 52 lightest first |
| Lightness | light (L* 68.3) |
| DMC color card | row 06-05 |
| Nearest Anchor | Anchor 117 Thistle Light, ΔE 2.0 |
DMC 809 equivalents in other brands
None of these 14 picks is a perfect twin of DMC 809: the best is Madeira 909 at ΔE 1.0.
| Brand | Color | Name | ΔE2000 | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchor | 117 | Thistle Light | 2.0 | very close |
| Anchor | 129 | Blue | 4.1 | close |
| Anchor | 1033 | Antique Blue Light | 4.9 | close |
| Madeira | 909 | Delft | 1.0 | very close |
| Madeira | 1710 | Dusty Blue Light | 6.0 | close |
| Madeira | 901 | Blue Violet Very Light | 8.0 | similar |
| Perler | Blueberry Creme | code 80-19093 | 6.3 | similar |
| Perler | Mist | code 80-15215 | 9.0 | similar |
| Hama | 70 | Light Grey | 7.0 | similar |
| Hama | 97 | Pastel Ice Blue | 8.5 | similar |
| Artkal S | SE2 | Raincloud | 3.7 | close |
| Artkal S | SE3 | Winter | 5.8 | close |
| Nabbi | N23 | Medium Blue | 8.7 | similar |
| Nabbi | N28 | Sky | 8.8 | similar |
DMC shades closest to DMC 809
No other DMC color comes within ΔE 3 of DMC 809; the nearest, DMC 156 Blue Violet Medium Light, sits at ΔE 4.8.
| Color | Name | Hex | ΔE2000 | Lighter or darker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 156 | Blue Violet Medium Light | #a3aed1 | 4.8 | a little lighter |
| 794 | Cornflower Blue Light | #8f9cc1 | 5.0 | a little darker and slightly more saturated |
| 160 | Blue Gray Medium | #999fb7 | 5.7 | a little darker and slightly more muted |
| 3755 | Baby Blue | #93b4ce | 5.9 | a little lighter |
| 932 | Antique Blue Light | #a2b5c6 | 6.2 | a little lighter and more muted |
| 3840 | Lavender Blue Light | #b0c0da | 6.9 | lighter and slightly more muted |
| 334 | Baby Blue Medium | #739fc1 | 7.5 | a little darker and slightly more saturated |
| 3839 | Lavender Blue Medium | #7b8eab | 8.2 | darker |
Shading DMC 809: lighter and darker blue steps
4 lighter steps and 4 darker steps from the DMC blue family, L* from 77 to 59.
| Step | Color | Name | L* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 lighter | 3840 | Lavender Blue Light | 77.3 |
| 3 lighter | 932 | Antique Blue Light | 72.8 |
| 2 lighter | 3755 | Baby Blue | 71.8 |
| 1 lighter | 156 | Blue Violet Medium Light | 71.3 |
| this color | 809 | Delft Blue | 68.3 |
| 1 darker | 160 | Blue Gray Medium | 65.7 |
| 2 darker | 794 | Cornflower Blue Light | 64.5 |
| 3 darker | 334 | Baby Blue Medium | 63.6 |
| 4 darker | 3839 | Lavender Blue Medium | 58.5 |
Blends that stitch up close to DMC 809
One strand each of DMC 3840 and DMC 799 models at ΔE 1.0, closer than any single DMC shade (best single: DMC 156, ΔE 4.8).
| Recipe (2 strands) | Blend hex | ΔE to DMC 809 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 × DMC 3840 Lavender Blue Light + 1 × DMC 799 Delft Blue Medium | #96a9c9 | 1.0 |
| 1 × DMC 3840 Lavender Blue Light + 1 × DMC 3839 Lavender Blue Medium | #98a9c4 | 1.2 |
| 1 × DMC 794 Cornflower Blue Light + 1 × DMC 3755 Baby Blue | #91a9c8 | 1.3 |
Outline and backstitch colors for DMC 809
Ranked by WCAG contrast ratio against #94a8c6; 3:1 or more keeps a backstitch line readable.
How to use DMC 809
Anchor 117 is the practical Anchor substitute for DMC 809. It is practically the same in lightness and saturation, a ΔE of 2.0 that shows only side by side, so keep to one brand inside a single shaded area.
DMC 809 is number 15 of 52 in the DMC blue family, counted from the lightest. For shading, step up to DMC 156 Blue Violet Medium Light and down to DMC 160 Blue Gray Medium. No other DMC shade sits within ΔE 3, so it is hard to confuse with the rest of the card.
DMC 809 glows on black or navy Aida (contrast 8.7:1 against black) but turns subtle on white fabric (2.4:1).
For a fuse-bead version of the same design, the nearest beads are Perler Blueberry Creme (ΔE 6.3), Hama 70 Light Grey (ΔE 7.0) and Artkal S SE2 Raincloud (ΔE 3.7); beads come in fewer shades than DMC, so expect a close match at best.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Anchor equivalent of DMC 809?
Anchor 117 Thistle Light is the closest Anchor match to DMC 809 Delft Blue (ΔE 2.0, very close). Runners-up: Anchor 129 (ΔE 4.1) and Anchor 1033 (ΔE 4.9).
What color is DMC 809?
DMC 809 Delft Blue is a light, soft blue in the blue family: hex #94a8c6, RGB 148, 168, 198, L* 68.3. These are screen values for a dyed thread, so check a real skein in daylight.
What can I use instead of DMC 809?
Inside DMC, DMC 156 Blue Violet Medium Light is nearest (ΔE 4.8). From other brands, Anchor 117 (ΔE 2.0) or Madeira 909 (ΔE 1.0). A 1+1 blend of DMC 3840 and DMC 799 models at ΔE 1.0.
What is DMC 809 in Perler beads?
Perler Blueberry Creme (#85a8e3) is the nearest Perler bead at ΔE 6.3 (similar). In Hama the nearest is Hama 70 Light Grey (ΔE 7.0).
What is the Madeira equivalent of DMC 809?
Madeira 909 Delft at ΔE 1.0 (very close), then Madeira 1710 at ΔE 6.0.
Related
Nearest DMC colors
- DMC 156 Blue Violet Medium Light ΔE 4.8
- DMC 3840 Lavender Blue Light ΔE 6.9
DMC 809 in other brands
- Perler Blueberry Creme ΔE 6.3
- Hama 70 Light Grey ΔE 7.0
- Artkal S SE2 Raincloud ΔE 3.7
- Nabbi N23 Medium Blue ΔE 8.7