Dyeing Easter eggs with natural plant-based dyes is a fun and creative way to celebrate the holiday. Here are some common plants and the colors they produce when used to dye eggs:

Dyeing Easter eggs with natural plant-based dyes

  • Red/pink: beets, cranberries, raspberries, red onion skins
  • Orange: onion skins, turmeric
  • Yellow: turmeric, chamomile, saffron, carrot tops
  • Green: spinach leaves, parsley, dill, cilantro
  • Blue: red cabbage, blueberries
  • Purple: grape juice, blackberries, red wine
  • Brown: coffee, black tea, walnut shells

Keep in mind that the color intensity may vary depending on the amount of plant material used, the length of time the eggs are soaked, and the pH level of the water. Experimenting with different plants and combinations can result in some unique and beautiful colors.

  • Turmeric: produces a bright yellow color
  • Red cabbage: produces blue to green colors, depending on the acidity of the dye bath. Adding vinegar will produce a more blue color, while adding baking soda will produce a more green color.
  • Beets: produces a pink to red color
  • Spinach: produces a light green color
  • Onion skins: produces a range of orange to brown colors, depending on the length of time the eggs are soaked in the dye bath.

Other plants that can be used include blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, coffee and tea. As already mentioned, the intensity of the color will vary depending on the concentration of the dye bath and the length of time the eggs are soaked. You may need to experiment a bit to find the right balance for the colors you want. Have fun!

Dyeing Easter eggs with onion skins and patterning them with herb leaves

  1. Gather some dry, papery onion skins and a selection of fresh herb leaves such as parsley, dill or cilantro.
  2. Cut a square of a nylon stocking or a piece of cheesecloth that’s big enough to wrap around an egg and tie off at the top.
  3. Place an herb leaf or a small bunch of leaves on the surface of the egg where you want the pattern to appear. Hold the leaf in place with your fingers while you wrap the egg with the square of stocking or cheesecloth.
  4. Gather the corners of the stocking or cheesecloth around the egg, tying them together at the top with a piece of string or twist tie. Repeat with as many eggs as you want to dye.
  5. Place the wrapped eggs in a pot of water and bring to a boil. Let them simmer for about 20 minutes. Once you are satisfied with the color, remove the eggs from the water and let them cool.
  6. Carefully unwrap the eggs. You should have beautifully dyed eggs with patterns created by the herb leaves.
  7. Gently remove the herb leaves to reveal the patterned design on the eggs.

And there you have it – beautifully patterned Easter eggs using natural dyes!