Easter is such a great time to try out your natural dye skills using plants and food waste!
Here are the supplies you will need:
Eggs: white is best, but brown will work too.
Food waste (list below)
Leaves or flowers
Panty hose: cut in down the leg about every 5 inches.
Distilled white vinegar: 1-2 tbsp per dye bath.
Pots: enough to create each dye bath or do one at a time using the same pot.
Mason jars or bowls: for the dye bath once it has cooled to hold the eggs.
Slotted spoons or tongs
Strainer
Crayon(white works best) or wax: to write or draw on your egg before dyeing
Coconut, avocado or olive oil (optional) to make eggs shine after dye process.
Colors and Dye Material:
Orange: Yellow onion skins 1-2 cups (extra for a marbled look)
Yellow: carrot top greens 1-2 cups or turmeric 1 tbsp
Green: red onion skins 1-2 cups (extra for a marbled look)
Blue: Purple cabbage 1-2 cup chopped
*Royal blue: blueberries 1 cup (smashed, strained and does not need to be warmed on stove)
Pink: Avocado pits and skins 3-4 pits +
Brown: Coffee strong brew, rosemary 1-2 cups or black tea 3-4 tea bags
You can always add more or have less, the color will just vary slightly light to darker shades.
You can get creative and try other plants and food waste. Be sure to share! I love to see how creative people get!
Directions:
Boil eggs. Your preferred way to boil eggs or try it in the insta pot.
How I do it:
1. Place rack in with a cup of water or at least enough water to cover the bottom but does not touch the rack.
2. Add eggs (however many you want) onto the rack.
3. Close lid and seal. Steam for 4-6 min. ( I do 4 min for runnier yokes) You can fast release or let it release slowly on it's own. I find that they are easier to peel if I let it release on it's own. (It makes the most perfect hard boiled egg.)
4. Set eggs aside or in the refrigerator until you are ready to dye them.
Making the dyes:
1. Measure 2 cups of water or enough water to cover your dye material (e.g. chopped cabbage) by 1 inch. You will most likely need to add water through out as it steams to keep the level up.
2. Bring to a boil and simmer for 30 min to 1 hour or longer until you get the desired color. Keep in mind that your egg will be about 2 shades lighter than what the dye looks like.
*Avocado pits will give a deeper color if they are simmered on the stove for 1-2 hrs and then left to sit for 12-24 hrs to let the color deepen. I suggest making it the night before or day before.
3. Let cool, then strain the plant material or food waste out.
4. Place dyes in mason jars or bowls with enough room for you eggs to be added. Add 1-2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar for a deeper color to each dye bath.
5. Add your eggs plain or with your prints (see below) and let sit in dye bath for 1-24 hrs until you get the color you desire. I like to let them soak in the refrigerator overnight.
6. Once you are pleased with the color take them out of the dye bath and pat dry or let dry in old egg carton
7. Rub them with some oil if you want to add a shine (optional)
(Left to right: purple cabbage, dried rosemary, avocado pits, yellow onion skins)
* to make your print: Add your flower or plant and wrap panty hose (about 5 inches but from the leg) around the egg with plant in place and tie on other side. The tighter the better and cleaner the print will be.
** for a marbled look wrap onion skins around the egg and then panty hose wrapped around and tied tight.
** If you want to draw or write something on your egg use wax or a crayon (i used white but others would work)
~I hope you enjoy the magic of natural dyes! Tag us on instagram so we can see your beautiful eggs! ~