Naturally Dyed Eggs

Dying eggs naturally is so beautiful and so satisfying. I'll be showing you how to create this vivid blue and pastel yellow from red cabbage and turmeric.

I have wanted to create these for so long, so when Prima magazine asked me to come up with some egg decorating ideas this was top of my list!

There is a whole rainbow of colours you can create, it's magical!

You Will Need

• Hard boiled eggs
• Red cabbage (for the blue eggs)
• Turmeric (for yellow eggs)
• Large pan
• Sieve
• Container (to go in the fridge)
• Water
• White vinegar
• Small leaves 
• Tights

Blue Eggs

1 Chop up a red cabbage and place it in a saucepan on the hob. Add enough cold water so the cabbage is completely covered, then bring the mixture to the boil.

2 Turn the heat down and simmer for about 30 minutes. Let the mixture cool, then pour it through a sieve into a container, and discard of the cabbage. Add three tablespoons of white vinegar to the mix.

3 Cut a piece of the tights large enough for an egg, tie a knot at one end then pop in an egg. Take a leaf, position it on the egg, then carefully place the tights material over the top to hold the leaf in place - it can be quite fiddly! Then tie the knotted and loose ends together at the back nice and tightly. 

4 Place the eggs carefully into the dye, then put the container in the fridge. For a dark blue colour leave the eggs overnight and for a light blue colour, 3-5 hours. 

5 Remove your eggs from the dye and leave them to completely dry. Once dry, undo the knot at the back and peel off the leaf to reveal a beautiful, natural design. The eggs will be safe to eat, as the dye is completely natural.

Yellow Eggs

1 Pour some boiling water into a deep bowl (big enough to hold your eggs). Add six tablespoons of turmeric and mix in three tablespoons of white vinegar.

2 Follow steps 3, 4 & 5, as for Blue Eggs above to create beautiful yellow eggs. 

TIP - Avoid using thick or textured leaves. Flat leaves work best and give the clearest end result

TIP - Try taking the eggs out at different times to make ombre eggs