How To Make Silk-Dyed Easter Eggs With A Tie

Silk tie Easter eggs will become a forever favorite.

Maybe we’ve seen Steel Magnolias a few too many times, but we always think about that scene where Ouiser crushes all the eggs in Truvy’s trunk when it comes time to decorate eggs for Easter. We also can’t help but shudder when we consider the mess that’s likely to ensue from the process–cracked eggs, dyed fingers, and countertops that make the ultimate sacrifice (despite our best efforts to cover the entire thing in newspaper). But what if we told you there’s a way to decorate your eggs with some of the most fabulous patterns and colors you can think of without all of that mess and worry? Consider this your introduction to silk tie Easter eggs. It’s a technique where you take a silk tie, cut it, wrap it around an egg, and let it boil in a water-vinegar mixture to create some of the most vibrant eggs you’ve ever made. Here is a step-by-step guide.

How To Silk-Dye Eggs

To learn more about this technique, we asked fiber artist Annette Browning of the blog FiberArtsy to fill us in on this trendy technique. The Kentucky-based crafter explains that she found this style of decorating while doing research for her website. She took a particularly deep dive into learning more about the magic that is silk tie transfer. “It is possible to transfer the pattern from silk ties to silk fabric, but I was intrigued by the bold, clear prints that you can get on eggshells,” she explains. She has a full tutorial on how to make these beautiful eggs on her website.

Growing up in Germany, Browning usually dyed her eggs with natural materials like onion skins or dye tablets (you know the ones), but she shares that this technique is just as simple. You might just want to put a pause on your KoolAid, dye tablet, and natural dyeing techniques and try your hand at this instead. Browning shares that even your kiddos can do it. “You just need to help them with securing the fabric around the eggs and of course, watch them with the boiling water,” she says.

What You’ll Need

To make these eggs, you’ll have to track down a handful of items that you likely already have in your home.

• Raw eggs

• 100% silk tie (find percentage of silk on the label)

• Light-colored (preferably white) scrap fabric from an old pillowcase or tablecloth

• Scissors

• Thread

• Pot

• White vinegar

• Water

• Vegetable oil (optional)

Browning recommends that you use an old pot or saucepan that you no longer use for cooking since this project includes dyes that should likely not be ingested. The white fabric scraps help keep the dyes from the different ties from transferring to the other eggs during boiling. If you do not have any worn-out or out-of-style silk ties in one of your closets, your local consignment store will likely have a tie or two available.

How To Make Silk-Dye Eggs

1. Cut the ties and scrap fabric into squares large enough to cover the egg, about 7 inches.

2. Take one egg at a time and carefully wrap a square of tie fabric around it, keeping the printed side facing the egg.

3. Tie thread around the egg to keep the fabric in place.

4. Wrap the egg a second time in a fabric scrap.

5. Secure your project by tying it with thread. (See tips below.)
   

6. Place the eggs in a pot, and cover with ? cup of white vinegar and enough water so that the eggs are totally submerged.

7. Let the eggs simmer for 20 minutes.

8. Cool completely.

All that’s left is to unwrap your eggs and display them! (Since these eggs are made using fabric dyes, they should not be eaten.)

Some Tips And Tricks

The most challenging part of this technique is wrapping the egg. “The one trick to getting bright, bold patterns is to make sure you have good contact between the silk tie and the egg. That means you have to tie the fabric very securely to the egg so there are no gaps,” Browning shares. “If the fabric is too loose, you may get some color but you won’t get the bright, clear patterns.”

Additionally, the color and pattern of your silk tie play big roles in how successful the transfer onto the egg will be. For softer, more pastel shades Browning says you should use white eggs to ensure that the soft color is as vivid as possible. Brown eggs lend themselves better to darker colors. She also shares that striped patterns do not easily lend themselves to the round shape of the egg.

To add some shine to the finished eggs, rub a small amount of vegetable oil on the shell.

More Egg Decorating Ideas

If this technique has you hooked on decorating Easter eggs, here are some other techniques to have fun with.

• Baking Soda Easter Eggs

• Cool Whip Easter Eggs

• Dyeing Brown Easter Eggs
  

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