Nature's Palette

Nature's Palette

How to naturally dye easter eggs

Recipes and Instructions by Brook Luallen, Owner of Smith & Len Photos by Topograph

Dyed Easter Eggs Naturally

Ingredients

2 dozen white eggs

3-4 cups of water for each dye bath (enough to cover the eggs)

2 tablespoons of white vinegar for each dye bath

Dye Elements

3-4 yellow onions (skins only)

3-4 red onions (skins only)

3-4 avocados (washed pits and skins only)

1-2 medium to large beets (chopped)

1-2 cups of used coffee grounds

5-6 tablespoons ground turmeric

Tops and greens of one bunch of carrots (chopped)

Materials

Multiple pots

Spoons

Measuring cup

Measuring spoons

Knife

Cutting board

Steps

1. Prep your dye baths: Get out your ingredients and pots, and prepare your dye elements.

2. In individual pots, place each dye element (e.g. beets have their own pot) with 3-4 cups of water.

3. Bring each pot to a boil, then lower heat to simmer for ~1 hour to extract the color from the dye elements.

4. While dye elements and water simmer, boil your eggs for 8-10 minutes in a large pot with enough water to fully cover the eggs. Remove from heat.

5. After dye elements and water have simmered for ~1 hour, completely strain out and discard/compost plant matter from each of your dye baths, reserving the liquid. (Be careful, it will be HOT!)

6. To each pot of dye bath, add 2 tablespoons of white vinegar.

7. Place previously boiled eggs in each hot dye bath.

8. Let your eggs sit in the dye bath. The longer they sit, the darker the color will become. Start with 20 minutes and then check eggs for desired color. The eggs can sit in the dye bath for up to 24 hours if the darkest color is desired.

9. Remove eggs from each dye bath and let dry on a paper towel or in the egg carton.

10. After drying, to achieve a sleeker presentation, rub coconut or olive oil on the eggs.

11. You are now a natural dyer! Place your eggs in a location to admire your creation.

“Pisanica” This term derived from the Croatian word meaning "writing", is the old slavic method of the careful natural dying of eggs.

Searching for a more advanced method? Here are two alternatives in creating your naturally dyed Easter eggs!

Easter Eggs Plant Printed

Supplies

Assortment of small, flat flowers, leaves, and plant clippings from your yard

Knee-high pantyhose, cut in half across (about 4”)

Scissors

Steps

1. Collect an assortment of small, flat flowers, leaves, and plant clippings from your yard.

2. Before placing eggs into dye baths, separate out a chosen amount of undyed eggs.

3. Wet your eggs with water and flatten your plants, flowers, or leaves on one side of an egg.

4. Take the 4” piece(s) of cut pantyhose, and place the egg with the plant, flower, or leaves carefully inside the pantyhose.

5. Pull tight and tie each end to secure the egg inside the pantyhose—the plant matter should be visible through the pantyhose. Reposition the plant matter to the preferred location on the egg.

6. Place the wrapped egg into the chosen dye bath.

7. Follow remaining steps 8-11 from the original recipe.

Alternative Color Options

Use brown or blue eggs to play with different colors and color combinations!

notes: Creating dyes with natural materials (plants, vegetables, or flowers) can sometimes be unpredictable. Natural dyes are living dyes and sometimes results will vary.

COLORS:

Yellow onions – peach to rusty orange

Red onions – golden yellow to rusty orange

Avocados – pink to red

Beets – pink to burgundy

Coffee grounds – tan to brown

Turmeric – yellow

Tops of carrots – green