Natural Dyes for Easter Eggs

I went to my local Natural Food store yesterday in hopes that they had some natural egg dying kits or just natural food dyes in general. Unfortunately they did not. So this year we will be attempting to make some natural dyes for our eggs. It should be interesting to say the least. I think the kids will enjoy it plus it is a little Science project.

Here are some recipes for natural egg dyes from Mother Earth News. We will be trying this on Saturday.

RED
2 cups beets, grated
1 tbsp white vinegar
2 cups water
Substitute: strong Red Zinger tea, or chopped fresh or frozen cranberries

YELLOW TO GOLD
3 large handfuls of yellow/brown onionskins
1 tbsp white vinegar
3 cups water
Substitute: strong chamomile tea, or 2 to 3 tbsp ground turmeric
(note: I have been told that onion skins makes more of a brown than yellow)

BLUE
1 pound frozen blueberries, crushed
1 tbsp white vinegar
2 cups water
Substitute: red cabbage leaves, coarsely chopped, create lavender




INSTRUCTIONS & TIPS

• Follow the recipes above to make the dyes, using individual stainless steel, glass or enamel saucepans for each color. Combine the ingredients and boil each color mixture separately for 15 minutes before dyeing eggs. The vinegar acts as a fixative so without it, the dyes won’t stick to the eggs.
• For uniform color, strain each dye mixture through cheesecloth or a fine strainer.
• For a mottled, tie-dyed or spotty effect, leave all the ingredients in the pans.
• The longer the eggs remain in the dye, the deeper the color.
• Mix combinations of the primary dyes (in separate cups) to make secondary colors.