Dyeing Eggs with Silk Ties
Every Easter I like to get creative and try a new way of dyeing our eggs. Back in the day I would just purchase a Paas dyeing kit and dye the eggs solid colors. Kind of boring, but it works. Over the last couple of years I have become more adventurous in my endeavors. One of my new favorite ways to dye eggs is with silk ties! I will admit that I have a bit of a pet peeve with having dye on my hands, or on the hands of my kids. Not my favorite thing. I get kind of paranoid that the dye will be all over the place, and will stain. With dyeing eggs with silk ties, there is no drippy dye mess! Another bonus is that the dyeing takes place while the eggs cook! 2-in1!
I was so nervous that the Silk Tie Dyed Easter Eggs would be challenging, but it was much more simple than I could have imagined. The one downside is that I had a difficult time getting the print of the tie to cover the egg completely. Some prints are easier than others.
Let me walk you through it.
Here’s what you will need:
- 100% Silk Ties – look on the label, or at the small end of the tie (there is a tag there), to see if it is in fact 100% silk.
- Eggs
- ¼ cup vinegar
- twist ties or string
- thin fabric such as a pillow case, for cutting
- Collect a variety of silk ties that you think would make for a pretty egg. Bright colors are great! Cut the seems of the tie, to open it up.
2. Once the tie is open, pull out the lining, so you have only the silk to work with.
3. Cut a piece of silk, large enough to cover the egg completely.
4. Wrap silk fabric around the egg, with the right side of the fabric making contact with the egg. The right side of the fabric is the more colorful side.
5. Tie fabric at the end of the egg with string of twist ties. Depending on which side or end you want to look the best, make sure you tie the fabric at the opposite end.
6. Wrap your silk covered egg in the pillow case fabric and tie at the end with another twist tie.
7. Place eggs in a large pot and cover with water and ¼ of vinegar.
8. Boil eggs for approximately 20 minutes.
9. Remove silk wrapped eggs from water and cool in a coliander before removing the fabric.
10. When eggs are cool enough to handle, you can remove twist ties and fabric layers. Your eggs are ready to go!
The tighter you can tie the fabric, the better. The end that has the tie will likely have the print be more splotchy.
If you need more tips and tricks to get through the Easter season, be sure to check out the Hershey’s Bunny Trail!
Crystal W. says
Amazing Emily, I’d have never thought of this! I bet you could find ties like this at Goodwill!
barbara tryon says
This is so cool! I think I will give this a try! thank you
Sophie says
Can you reuse the fabric to dye more eggs, or is this just one time use per cloth section?
Ellen says
You really should credit the Russians who have been doing this same thing with silk bits for centuries! I did it with my preschoolers last year and had amazing results. It’s very easy!
Michaela K says
This is the neatest thing I’ve seen done with ties! I’m going to try this out with Hubby’s old ties! Thank you!