Silk-dyed Easter Eggs

These were so much fun to make! A little intricate, but so worth it. They came out beautiful!

This is a project that takes a few days, especially if you don’t have any of the supplies you need. I started accumulating old men’s silk ties, boxers, and women’s silk blouses. I went to Goodwill and another consignment shop that was near me and I bought a bunch of different men’s ties in cool designs. It must be 100% silk for the pattern to transfer onto the egg.

The benefit of using silk dye (or acid dye) is that it isn’t poisonous like all those other dyes out there. You can actually eat these eggs after you dye them.

Items you’ll need: silk fabric, kitchen twine or twistie ties, white eggs, vinegar, 100% cotton sheet and some vegetable oil.

Step 1: Gather, gather, gather! Raid your husband’s closet and take those old ties he never wears. Go to your nearby consignment shop. One tie makes 2 eggs. So if you are making 24 eggs then you need 12 ties.

Step 2: This is the tedious step that you might want to do beforehand, especially if you have little hands helping. You need to unravel the ties. So, cut the thread and start taking the tie apart.

Step 3: Cut the fabric into squares. Make sure they are big enough to cover the whole egg and have enough fabric left to tie it together. Then wrap them around the egg, as tight and as flat as you can without crushing it, with the fabric inside out (bright pattern is against the egg). Secure the kitchen twine at the top of the egg. Here’s a picture of my eggs all tied up:

Step 4: Cut your white cotton sheet into squares and then wrap the cotton squares around each egg.  This keeps the dye from each egg bleeding onto the other eggs. I forgot to take a picture of this step. Sorry. I did, however, save on the tieing of twine and used twistie ties.

Step 5: Very carefully place each egg in the bottom of a big pot. Only put them in one layer. You might need to use 2 pots or do them in batches. Cover the eggs with water, with 1/2 inch of water on the top. Then add 1/4 cup of white vinegar into the pot. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 20 minutes.

Step 6: Take the eggs out and set on paper towels to cool and let the color set. No peaking!

Step 7: Unravel the eggs and behold the beauty!!! Wipe them dry with a paper towel and then rub a little vegetable oil on them (this is the only thing I have used vegetable oil on in years!).

All done! I got so many comments on them. They are so beautiful and people will think you are so artistic! Little do they know!!!