Natural egg dyeing — Argyle Cottage

Easter Sunday is only a few days away and maybe you still need to check dying eggs off your list. The last few years we ditched the classic Paas egg kits and decided to make our own dyes using everyday ingredients. The process is like a fun science experiment and the results are truly stunning. Nature provides many hues, you just have to decide what colors you are seeking.

This year we went with a more limited color palette since eggs and other food items are in rare supply. Irregardless this method is full of family fun and is sure to leave a lasting impression on your kiddos.

Materials:

Glass bowls or cups (plastic will stain; wide neck mason jars are perfect)
Hard boiled eggs
Turmeric
Yellow or red onion skins
Violets
Beets
Purple cabbage
Tea or coffee
Spoons or tongs
Newspaper or kraft paper to keep workspace clean.
Rubber gloves if you don’t want your hands dyed.

Directions:

1. Hard boil eggs (place eggs in pot, cover with water and bring to a boil, remove pot from stove and place a lid on pot and allow eggs to sit in water for 11-13 minutes. Then rinse eggs under cold water.)

2. Make dyes;

Yellow: Bring two cups (I used skins from 5 large onions) onion skins, 2 cups water and 1 tbsp white vinegar to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for half an hour. Strain and allow liquid to cool.

Pink: Bring two cups chopped beets, 2 cups water, and 1 tbsp white vinegar to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Strain and cool liquid.

Orange: Bring two cups of water, 1 Tbsp white vinegar, and 2 tbsp turmeric to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Strain and cool liquid. (You may also get yellow from Turmeric, by using 1/4 tsp of the spice in one cup boiling water and a shorter soak time.)

Blue: Bring two cups chopped purple cabbage, 2 cups water and 1 tbsp white vinegar to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Strain and cool liquid.

Light blue: Bring a cup of water to a boil and add one cup foraged violets. (soak mixture for a few days) Strain liquid.

Brown: Bring one cup of water to a boil, add tea bag and steep for 5-10 minutes. Discard tea bag.

Green: Mix yellow and blue dye

3. To dye eggs, submerge in dye for at least 30 minutes for a more intense color. Place on a wire baking rack to dry. (if you want very vivid colors you will need to pack your patience and allow the eggs a few hours to soak or even overnight.)

There are so many options for creating natural dyes; these are a few favorites we have discovered over the years. If you have a suggestion that you have tried that produces awesome results I’d love to hear about it.

This year Easter will be different since we can’t gather with family. We won’t allow that to dampen our spirit and we’ll make plenty of fun memories together. I’ve planned a simple Easter dinner and luckily ordered our favorite candies to fill the baskets the bunny will deliver. How will you celebrate this Sunday?

Thanks for reading.

Stay good + well!