HOW TO DYE BOTANICAL BLUE EGGS FOR EASTER

CRAFT

Mar 29

Muscari grape hyacinth flowers, blue dyed easter eggs with white leaf pattern, small floristry scissors on Spring tablecloth

Eggs coloured using natural dyes, and patterned with leaves make a lovely edition to an Easter table, shelf or mantelpiece.This craft project is beginner friendly, and is great to do with children.

You will use leaves from the garden for the botanical pattern, and DIY blue dye created using red cabbage.

The overall effect is a tribute to beautiful Wedgwood china.

what you need

one small red cabbage.
some hardboiled white hens eggs (shells left on).
a few tablespoons of white vinegar.

Red cabbage on chopping board with kitchen knife, bowl of white eggs small jug of white vinegar on wooden table

thin tights/stockings cut into 10cm lengths
scissors
natural string (not coloured)
a medium and a small saucepan
a chopping board
a sharp knife
a spoon

Cut up tights natural twine string small metal scissors on wooden tabletop

a selection of interesting shaped leaves

INSTRUCTIONS

STEP 1

MAKE YOUR DYE

Roughly chop up the red cabbage, place in a medium saucepan, cover with water and add 4 tablespoons of vinegar.

Simmer on a stove for around an hour to release the dye.

Step 2

PREP YOUR EGGS

Meanwhile prepare you eggs. Wipe an egg with a damp cloth and place a leaf on the surface in a nice position you’re happy with.

The moisture from the cloth will help the leaf to stay in place for the next step.

Green leaf on white hen egg on wooden table

Step 3

WRAP YOUR EGGS

Carefully wrap a pice of stocking around the egg, pinning the leaf tight to the surface.

Gather the excess stocking at the back of the egg and tie off using some string. Make sure it is securely knotted.

Repeat with all the eggs.

white eggs with green leaf stencils covered with stockings tights tied with natural string twine on wooden table

Step 4

PREP YOUR SAUCEPAN

Place your eggs in a snug saucepan and put aside.

white eggs with green leaves covered in tights stockings tied with string twine in saucepan on wooden table

Step 5

STRAIN YOUR DYE

After an hour of simmering, strain your dye into a bowl and leave it to cool completely.

The cabbage can be composted or put in your food bin.

Step 7

DYE YOUR EGGS

Pour enough cooled dye over your eggs to cover and put aside for at least an hour for a pale blue, or longer for a darker blue My eggs were in for an hour and a half in total.

white eggs in saucepan of red cabbage dye bath on wooden table

Step 8

RELEASE YOUR EGGS

Carefully remove your eggs, and cut the string to release the stocking. Carefully peel the leaf away.

Blue dyed eggs with white leaf pattern, eggs covered in stockings tights tied with string with metal scissors on a white plate on a rustic wooden table

Step 9

ALLOW YOUR EGGS TO DRY

Stand the eggs on a plate, with your leaf pattern facing up, until completely dry.

Blue dyed eggs with white leaf patterns on floral fabric

EASTERBOTANICALDYE

Clea Broad https://www.cleabroad.co.uk