Sweet Art by Olivia: Silk Dyed Eggs

Easter is quickly approaching, and with it the festivities and family get-togethers that highlight each holiday. The egg takes on countless culinary forms and is used for adorning homes and yards for easter egg and scavenger hunts all over the world. I'd like to teach you a charming way to decorate eggs and pattern them in ways you may not have tried before.

For this fun family project you will need the following: eggs, white vinegar, 100% silk (old ties or new silk), thin non-dyed cotton (old pillowcase), scissors or seam ripper, and rubber-bands or twine. You can find old ties or scrap cotton at your local thrift store just be sure to check the tags on the ties to make sure you are getting 100% silk ties. For the best results choose ties in strong contrasting colors (reds, purples, navy) and avoid pale colors. You can also choose to dye "blown out eggs" to keep them longer. For blown out eggs I use a bead reamer, and an ear syringe but to keep these eggs submerged requires a method of weighing them down under water without crushing them and for this I would use a smaller pot inside the pot used to boil the eggs and fill it with water.

Seam ripper may work better than scissors

Lets begin. Choose eggs with strong shells and inspect your eggs well for cracks. With an old rag and vinegar, wash and dry the egg shell well to prime it for dying. Gather the fabrics you will be using, Deconstruct the silk ties and fabrics you will be using. Place your egg with the finished side of the silk taut to the eggshell and tie it well with twine or a rubber band.

Tied this way the design will be on the side.

Next, tie them all up in thin cotton for a second layer. Then place your eggs in pot, and fill with water just enough to cover the eggs, add a cup of white vinegar and set to boil. Allow to boil for 45 min then allow to cool.