Fabric Dyed Easter Eggs

Looking for a fun method for dyeing Easter eggs? These Fabric Dyed Easter Eggs create the most stunningly intricate graphic designs, easily!

Transfer designs from fabric to egg shells using only fabric, vinegar and a few scientific concepts. It’s so much fun to choose your fabrics and see how the decorated eggs turn out! What will you create?

Silk Dyed Easter Eggs – a new old tradition

First introduced to the world alllll the way back on the first season of the Martha Stewart Show. This decorated Easter eggs technique is very different than the traditional vinegary dye tablets that most of us grew up with.

When I watched Martha creating these I was in awe! I was a new mom of an infant always on the lookout for traditions to create with my new family. And I loved how this stunning Easter egg dying technique resembled the Ukrainian dyed eggs my grandma painstakingly created. Hers involved intricate hand created beeswax designs and thoughtful dips in lots of different dyes. These Fabric Dyed Easter Eggs are a great way to get a similar result with a whole lot less time and patience!

All it took was a trip to the thrift store for some old silk ties and scarves. I was blown away at what I created! Rows upon rows of delicate eggs with beautiful graphic designs transferred right onto the shells.

How to Make Fabric Dyed Easter Eggs

There are many different tips and tricks to fabric dyed Easter eggs that are all designed to help you ensure the best results. Truth is, over the years I’ve realized that a lot of it comes down to luck and experimentation.

What is the science behind it?

Made from acid based inks most silk and rayon fabrics react with acidic vinegar and the heat from the boiling water to transfer their designs onto the porous egg shells.

What fabrics work best for Fabric Dyed Eggs?

Typically the brighter the fabric the more likely it is to have been printed with acid based ink and will work well for Fabric Dyed Easter Eggs. You can find lots of fun rayon printed blouses and dresses at the second-hand store. Along with old silk scarves and neck ties. Or simply hit up the rayon aisle of your favorite fabric store and look for an interesting print that catches your eye. Typically bright blue and red prints transfer best, but it’s always exciting to see how the different fabrics will perform. Which is just part of the fun!

Can you use the same fabric to dye eggs more than once?

Yes! If you find fabric that transfers well feel free to use the same piece until the colors no longer transfer.

Can you eat eggs dyed with silk ties?

Fabric and silk dyed eggs are edible, but they aren’t really safe to eat. There are both toxic and non-toxic varieties of acid-based inks. Making it basically impossible to know which one you’ve boiled your eggs in. Therefore it’s not recommended to eat them afterwards. If you could guarantee you are using a non-toxic fabric, then you could boil the eggs and store refrigerated to be eaten within 3 days.

Fabric Dyed Eggs Instructions

Choose your supplies – eggs, rayon or silk fabric and cotton/ muslim pieces. And something to hold them together – rubberband, twist tie or string.

Wrap the eggs tightly in the rayon or silk fabric with the bright printed side facing the egg. Secure with a twist tie, rubberband or string.

Wrap again in cotton to help the ink stay close to the egg.

Place in a pot of water, bring to a boil and simmer. Then when they are cool enough to handle remove the fabric and reveal your creations!

It’s so fun to see how they turned out!

Enjoy!

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