Onion skins have been used through out history as a natural dye for fabrics and yarns. They are known for the rich golds and soft yellow-greens they produce. The spring brings another and fun use for onion skins: dyeing Easter eggs. The onion skins will produce a colorful marbled pattern on the eggs.

Materials:

White Eggs
Onion skins (red and yellow)
Cotton rags or cheesecloth
Elastic bands
Saucepan of water
Bowl of water

Directions:

1. Soak onionskins in bowl of water to soften them.

2. Cut rags or cheesecloth into pieces approximately 8-inches by 8-inches square. One square will be needed for each egg.

3. Wet uncooked egg and cover with softened onionskins. Wet piece of cheesecloth and wrap around egg, creating a pouch with one end that can be twisted tightly to bring onion skins in contact with the egg. Make sure that cheesecloth is held tightly around egg. Use rubber band to close the cheesecloth pouch. Repeat until all of the eggs are wrapped.

4. Place wrapped eggs into saucepan of water. Bring water to rolling boil. Cook eggs until hard boiled, about 5 to 7 minutes beyond boiling point.

5. Drain hot water and replace it with cold water to cool eggs.

6. When eggs are cool enough to comfortably handle, remove them from water and from their cloth pouches. Remove onion skins and rinse egg.