Anchor conversion charts
Anchor (Coats) · Cotton floss · 420 colors
18 charts for Anchor: 17 to machine embroidery thread and 1 to DMC floss. Each one lists all 420 Anchor colors beside the closest color in the other brand; depending on the brand, 21% to 99% of them have a close or better match. Pick the brand you want to stitch with.
Convert Anchor to…
Machine embroidery thread 17
Hand embroidery floss 1
Convert to Anchor from…
One color, or a whole design
Full Anchor color chart Batch convert a design Open in converter
Frequently asked questions
Which brands match Anchor most closely?
Counting the colors with a close or better match, DMC (99%), Sulky Poly (86%) and Madeira Rayon (66%) come closest, and Brother (21%) is furthest away. A lower figure does not rule a brand out: its chart shows which Anchor colors need a substitute.
Which Anchor colors are hardest to match?
None. Every one of the 420 Anchor colors has a close or better match in at least one of the 18 brands, although no single brand covers them all: even DMC leaves 1 color without one.
Can I stitch an Anchor pattern on an embroidery machine?
Yes. Each chart under Machine embroidery thread gives the closest machine color for all 420 Anchor numbers. Sulky Poly covers the most (86% close or better) and Brother the fewest (21%). Machine thread has more sheen than cotton floss, so the stitched colors look a little brighter.