Making Ukrainian-Style Eggs

clean white eggs
Start with a clean, white egg.

sketch guide lines on the egg
Sketch some guidelines in pencil.

melting wax in a kistka tool

This is a waxing tool called a “kistka.”  It has a metal cup with a tiny hole at the bottom.
Fill the kistka with beeswax, and heat it over a candle flame to melt the wax.


drawling wax lines with a kistka tool

Use the kistka to draw lines of melted wax on your egg.
The wax will keep dye off the egg, so wherever you put wax at this stage will remain white.


yellow dyebath

Dip the egg into the first color of dye – in this case yellow.
Notice that the waxed lines have been protected from the yellow dye.


Now, draw wax lines in all the places that should remain yellow.

4 stages of colors on a Ukrainian-style egg

Continue in this way, adding layers of wax and different colors, until the design is complete.


melting off the wax
Melt off the wax.
Now you can see the egg’s true colors!

eggs on drying rack
Varnish the egg.  Blow out the insides.
You have a lovely keepsake!