My mom, as you’ve seen, is one crafty lady, and on Easter weekend she did not disappoint. She found a how-to by Jaimie Cura on patch.com for dying elaborate patterns on hardboiled eggs with men’s silk ties. At last, a use for paisley print!
We learned a few lessons during the dying process, most importantly to pull the silk pieces as tight as possible around the egg shells. Anywhere the silk isn’t in contact with the shell the dye won’t transfer. And beware of silk that’s been treated to make it stain-resistant or to keep the color from running—that’s the whole idea!
I think they turned out lovely and even though you aren’t supposed to eat them, my boyfriend Asa had a few for breakfast. (The one with the cracked bottom didn’t make it 10 minutes after this picture was taken.)
“T. E. Bunny” brought Asa his first ever Easter basket the next morning (the Easter eggs were also a new phenomenon).
Me: What kind of childhood did you have!?! Asa: uh…the Jewish kind?
I have since read that silk scarves also work well -- and are easier, because you needn't open a lot of stitching and remove the lining, which is required when you use ties. Next year, we will be ready! The eggs will be a work of art -- I promise. We will make T.E. Bunny proud. Keep an eye peeled when you're thrifting for fabulous (dark colored) scarves.
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