Naturally-Dyed Easter Egg Recipe

You can create brilliantly colored eggs in a range of hues using easy-to-find ingredients such as onion skins, beets, and cabbage! Our recipe will teach you how to create the brightest, boldest colors and how to create the widest spectrum of color. 

Use yellow onion skins for a warm, rich, red-orange, red beets for pink, turmeric for yellow, and red cabbage for blue. Combine these ingredients to create even more colors; cabbage and turmeric make green, onions skins and turmeric make a brighter orange. By using mason jars, and utilizing a double-boiler method of cooking, it is possible to create many colors at once. 

This project is a fun way to learn about natural dyeing - perhaps if you haven’t already, you may use natural dyes in the future when dyeing yarn, fabric, and clothing. Check out our books The Modern Natural Dyer and Journeys in Natural Dyeing to learn how!

(The pattern is a PDF and will be sent to you via email to download. Make sure to check your junk / spam folders. Add us to your contact list to ensure delivery.)

Please take care when working with natural dyes. Always use separate pots and tools dedicated to the dyeing process. Wear protective eyewear and gloves. By purchasing these materials you are agreeing to taking all responsibility when using. 

When working with goods dyed with indigo, it is common and natural for the blue dye to rub off on one’s hands while sewing. This is called crocking. Although the goods have been washed, it takes pressured contact to release the extra indigo dye. Your handwork is part of the indigo dyeing process. The blue dye can be removed with hot water and soap. From working closely with indigo dyed materials through the making process, typically, the excess dye has been removed, and the crocking will cease.

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Once dyed, based upon the fiber content, follow the applicable instructions for the longterm care of them: 

Plant-based fibers such as cotton or linen - Machine washable on cool cycle. Hang or lay flat to dry.

Silk - Handwash with cool water recommended. Hang to dry.

Superwash Wool - Machine washable on cool cycle with pH neutral soap, though hand wash recommended. Lay flat to dry.

Wool and Wool blends - Handwash only in lukewarm water with pH neutral soap. Lay flat to dry.

This item is a final sale. Once purchased, there are no cancellations, exchanges, store credits, or returns. 

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Curbside Pick-Up
To pick up your order at our shop, when checking out, under shipping method, choose Pick up at our Oakland store - 6328 San Pablo Ave.

You will receive an email when your order is ready. Orders placed Tuesday-Saturday are typically ready within 24 hours. To pick up your order, come to the shop between 11am - 3pm, Tuesday-Saturday. Knock on the front door and give us your name. 

Pre-orders
Pre-orders will ship on the date listed on the product’s webpage. If you ordered additional items, all items will be shipped with your pre-order. If you would like those items shipped separately, please place two separate orders.