The most beautiful dyes for Easter eggs come from foodstuff you probably already have in your kitchen. I have been delighted with results of colors I have tried and my friends have been thrilled to receive them as springtime gifts. The colors are very unusual -- gentle, earthy, soft, and very vibrant, without being harsh like artificial dyes -- and when I tell people colors come from plant dyes, they always want to know origin of each color.
To color these eggs, you boil eggs with dyestuff, rather than boiling eggs separately and they dying them.
Here are general directions:
1. Put raw, white-shelled, organically-raised eggs in a single layer in a pan. Cover with cold water. 2. Add a little more than a teaspoon of white vinegar. 3. Add natural dyestuff for color you want your eggs to be. (The more eggs you are dying at a time, more dye you will need to use, and more dye you use, darker color will be.) 4. Bring water to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. 5. Quickly check eggs for color by removing them from dye liquid with a slotted spoon.
If color is as desired, pour off hot dye liquid and rinse eggs immediately in cold water to stop eggs from cooking. Continue to change water until it stays cool in pot because eggs are no longer releasing heat. Drain and allow eggs to cool in refrigerator.
If you wish a deeper color, strain hot dye liquid into a container, then rinse eggs immediately in cold water to stop them from cooking. Continue to change water until it stays cool in pot because eggs are no longer releasing heat. Drain last of cold water, then cover eggs with strained dye liquid. Add more water if necessary so that eggs are completely covered. Put into refrigerator immediately and keep eggs in refrigerator until desired shade is achieved. Overnight is good. Longer than about twelve hours some of colors just get muddier instead of deeper, and lighter shades are more vibrant.