Silk Dyed Eggs, "Tie-Dyed"

Not only are these eggs beautiful for Easter, but they would look great as a centerpiece to a batch of deviled eggs or egg salad sandwiches at any gathering. Please vote for me  in the Egg-bot Challenge!

What you will need:
Eggs
Several 100% silk ties
White cotton t-shirt
String
Enamel pot
Vegetable oil (optional)

I tried this project with white eggs, however brown eggs may work as well but would give a different color effect. I purchased the silk ties at Goodwill for a dollar each. Any silk would work, like a scarf or sections of a shirt.

(Disclaimer - this is not my original idea, just an original Instructable)

Deconstruct a silk tie by removing the stitching and interfacing. Cut a section of silk large enough to completely wrap around the egg (leave some excess for room to tie the end together).

With the 'good' side of the tie on contact with the egg, tie the egg up in the silk. You can tie the egg in the method shown in the picture for a more abstract look (the crinkles in the fabric cause distortions in the dyeing process.) For a cleaner, crisper dye job, carefully wrap the egg with as few wrinkles as possible and tie on each end, like a Tootsie Roll.

Cut the cotton t-shirt into sections large enough to individually wrap the eggs. (Any cotton will work, such as an old pillow case, however, I'd like to find out if socks would work. I'm not sure if they are a tight enough weave.) Tie each egg in cotton.

Put the eggs in an enamel pot with enough water to cover them. Add three tablespoons of white vinegar. Bring the eggs to a boil, then turn down the heat and let them simmer thirty minutes.

Carefully remove the eggs from the pot with tongs. They will be very hot so allow them to cool for a while. Cut the strings off the cotton and silk, careful not to crack the eggs. Unwrap the gorgeously patterned eggs. For shiny eggs, rub on some vegetable oil.

Share your eggs with your friends and family. For an Easter gift, place a few eggs in a basket or box with a card, include a piece of silk to show them how you made the eggs. People will surely love your artistry!