Silk Dyed Easter Eggs

My all time favorite Easter eggs were these silk dyed eggs my mom and I made together a few years ago.  I originally shared this project when I wrote for Crafting a Green World.  I want to re-share the directions for this great, timeless egg dying project.

My mom did the thrifting to find a bunch of 100% silk ties and blouses in bright colors.  They were truly awful looking, but they made some beautiful eggs.  You essentially wrap the eggs in the silk and hard boil them.

Step by Step for Multi-Pattern Silk Strip Dyed Eggs:

1. Cut 1/2 inch to 1 inch strips about 8 inches long from the skinny end of a 100% silk tie.
2. Arrange the strips as shown below.
3. Place the large end of the egg in the center of the strips.
4. Pull strips up over top of egg to and secure with a piece of string.
5. Wrap egg again with a piece of white cloth.  We used pieces of an old flour sack dish towel.
6. Boil and simmer eggs in water and vinegar solution according to Martha’s Tutorial.
7. Let the eggs cool on a rack with paper towels beneath to catch dye drippings.
8. Carefully unwrap eggs to reveal the dyed beauty.

Step by Step for Single Pattern Silk Dyed Eggs:

1. From the fat end of a 100% silk tie, cut a piece of silk large enough to wrap around an egg.
2. Wrap the egg in the piece of silk and secure with a piece of string.
3. Wrap egg again with a piece of white cloth.
4. Boil and simmer eggs in water and vinegar solution according to Martha’s Tutorial.
5. Let the eggs cool on a rack with paper towels beneath to catch dye drippings.
6. Carefully unwrap eggs to reveal the dyed beauty.

For the brightest, shiniest eggs:

• This only works with 100% silk fabric.  Ties, scarves, and blouses are all good options.
• Boil and then simmer for at least 20 minutes.
• For better color saturation boil for 40 minutes or more (if you don’t plan on eating the egg).
• Wrap egg tightly in silk to prevent white spots.  For solid color or less interesting silk prints, wrap the egg loosely so parts of the egg remain white after dying causing a marbled effect.
• Try putting wrong side of woven silk against egg, often producing a different pattern then the front of the fabric.
• Rub finished eggs with vegetable oil to make them shiny.
• Keep red/purple eggs in a separate pot from lighter colors to avoid cross-contamination of dye colors.
• Save your silk swatches,  they can all be reused again to dye more eggs.

Sharing this project here:
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