Indie Craft: Dyeing Eggs With Vintage Neckties

A trip to the thrift store or your closet can yield an Easter craft in the making.

silk-dyed Easter eggs

Silk-Dyed Easter Eggs

Create some incredible patterns on your Easter eggs using vintage neckties.

Photo by: Image courtesy of Shannon Mulkey

Image courtesy of Shannon Mulkey

Create some incredible patterns on your Easter eggs using vintage neckties.

This is one of my favorite egg decorating methods. The results are stunning and it is so easy. You can find inexpensive silk ties and scarves at your local thrift store. The crazier the print, the better! This technique also works with blown eggs.

Supplies

  • Eggs
  • Silk ties or scarves (make sure they are 100% silk)
  • Twine
  • Fabric scraps
  • Large pot for boiling eggs
  • 1/4 cup vinegar
silk-dyed neckties

How to Create Silk-Dyed Easter Eggs

Wrap eggs in men's neckties to emboss them with a cool new pattern.

Photo by: Image courtesy of Shannon Mulkey

Image courtesy of Shannon Mulkey

Wrap eggs in men's neckties to emboss them with a cool new pattern.

Directions

1:  Cut your silk into squares that will fit  around your egg. Wrap it, printed side facing the egg, as smoothly and as tightly as possible.  Secure it with a twist tie, rubber band or piece of twine.

2: Wrap a scrap of white fabric (you can use an old sheet or pillowcase) around the silk-covered egg. Secure ends again.

3: Place the eggs in a saucepan. Fill with enough water to cover eggs and add 1/4 cup white vinegar. Bring to a boil and cook for 20 minutes.

4: Remove eggs from water using tongs and set in a colander to drain.  Unwrap when the packages are cool to the touch, if you can wait! You can add a subtle shine by polishing with olive oil.

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