Dyeing eggs is relatively easy to do. Here we dye an egg with onion skins – wait until you see what happens!
Easter eggs – real eggs, not the chocolate ones – have been painted and dyed around Easter time for centuries.
What you need
- Eggs… obviously!
- An onion or two
- A pan with water
- A cloth (optional)
Additional dyes to try
- Beetroot
- Blueberries
- Food colouring
- Spices
What to do
Ask an adult to help as this involves hot water!
- Take a piece of cloth, big enough to put an egg in (still in its shell)
- Place about 6 layers of the dry onion skins on the cloth (tear them up small)
- Scatter some dry rice over the skins (this makes a great pattern on the shell)
- Place your egg on the skins and wrap the cloth firmly around the egg – twisting the top, use an elastic band to keep it tight
- Put the wrapped egg in a pan of gently boiling water for about 30 minutes
This MUST be done by a parent as water is hot - After 30 minutes ask an adult take the egg out the water and leave to cool in the cloth (at least 15 minutes)
- Unwrap your egg – wait until you see how your egg now looks!
Learn the art of dry stone walling, woodland management, tree planting, hedgelaying and much more.
Get instant access to the definitive ‘how to’ practical conservation guides. Advice, instructions and support to manage your countryside and green spaces.