Learn how naturally dye Easter Eggs using Onion Skins or Peels

Easter is really one of my favorite Holidays. I love all the crafting and decorating involved, especially dyeing the Easter Eggs!

Growing up in Germany, my Grandmother taught us how they dyed the eggs when she was a little girl... way back when!

They didn't have the Paas egg dyeing kits... I am not even sure that they had artificial food coloring yet. So, people back then had to use what they had on hand. And for dyeing eggs for Easter, that was plants and flowers.

There are a couple of different methods for dyeing eggs with onions.

1. This is the traditional natural dyeing method which gives you a solid brown/gold egg. All you do is place the onion skins in some water and vinegar. Bring this to a boil and then simmer it for 15 minutes to a hour. This process extracts the natural dye from the onions. Then, you add the eggs to the dye and again bring it to a boil.

These eggs are also very beautiful, but there is a way to make an even more special, unique, marbled texture which I am going to show you here.

2. Instead of extracting the dye from the onions separately, this step by step process I will show you extracts the dye while the peels are making contact with the raw eggs. Since different pieces of onion skin have different amounts and tints of dye, you end up with a mosaic of patches.

• You can check out the full tutorial at

https://www.fiberartsy.com/easter-eggs-marbled-dyed-onion-skins

Here is how to Dye Marbled Eggs using Onion Peels:

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

• Raw Eggs
• Scrap Fabric
• Sharp Scissors
• Thread or String
• Small Cook Pot (big enough to hold all the eggs)
• Water
• White Vinegar

STEP 1: CUTTING THE FABRIC

To begin, cut your scrap fabric into 8" squares. You will need one piece of fabric for each egg.

STEP 2: WRAPPING THE EGGS IN BUNDLES

Lay a piece of fabric flat on your hand and then layer with onion skin pieces. This can be a few large pieces or a bunch of little ones. (More, smaller pieces result in more texture and marbling)

Now, place an egg on top of the onion peels. Sort of cup your hand around it and cover the egg with more onion pieces. (You want the entire egg to be covered)

Using your thread, tightly tie the bundle closed at one end making sure that the egg and onion peels are making good contact. (The better the contact between the elements, the more definition in your colors)

Repeat this wrapping process with the other eggs.

STEP 3: SIMMERING THE EGGS TO SET THE DYE

To dye your eggs, pour a few inches of water into your cookpot and add about a cup of the white vinegar. Once all of your eggs are all wrapped, carefully place them in the water in the cook pot. (Make sure the water is covering all of the eggs. If they won't all fit in the bottom of the pot, simply boil your eggs two separate batches)

Now, bring this to a boil and then lower the heat to gently simmer the eggs for about 15 minutes. Finally, turn off the heat and allow the eggs to cool in the water completely.

STEP 4: REVEALING THE MARBLED EASTER EGGS

THIS IS THE FUN PART! THE REVEAL!

Once the dyed eggs are totally cooled, you can cut the thread and then carefully unwrap the fabric and remove the onion skins.

Aren't these the coolest Easter Eggs you have ever seen?? The coolest part is that no two eggs are ever alike. Each one is totally unique.

To add a bit of shine, you can rub the eggs with some vegetable oil.

Since these Easter Eggs are dyed all naturally with only water, vinegar and onion skins, they are totally safe to eat. They also make wonderful Easter decorations and a fun Easter Gift!

Enjoy!

Annette

FiberArtsy.com

Hey, I'm Annette, check out FiberArtsy.com for lots more crafting tutorials