Introduction: Modern Pysanky

In this instructable, I'll show you the how to's of the traditional art of pysanky for the more modern, thrifty, realistic, and practical crafters who don't want to spend a ton of their money on the internet getting supplies, when they could get the same effect for much less. In total I spent, at most, 20 USD for 12 of my own pysanky egg creations. I hope I help all who read this, and please do enjoy.

*note-if you discover any tips and tricks on your own feel free to share them with me. I'll try them out, and I'll update my instructable here if I notice the same thing

Step 1: Materials

1. 1 or more eggs
2. 1 needle
3. 1-2 bowls
4. 1 pencil
5. measuring tape*
6. Kistka (I own all the sizes, but if your just learning start with the largest to get used to it.)
7. Beeswax
8. 1 box of food dye
9. vinegar*
10. 1 or more candles
11. A tray to keep your tables clean
12. Q-tips/ cotton balls
13. paper towels

Step 2: Blowing the Egg

1. Create a hole on either side of the egg with effort, and a needle.
2. Make each hole bigger than the original hole, yet make the holes correspond with the size of each side. The skinnier side of the oval gets the skinnier hole, and the same rule applies to the bigger side getting the bigger hole.
3. Take a deep, strong breath and blow into the egg on the skinny side with all your might.
4. If nothing comes out then take your needle and swivel, and poke it around in your egg thus breaking the blockage.
5. If still nothing comes out then repeat steps 2 and 3 until success finds you.
6. You may want to try a longer needle if your still having trouble, and if your really in a rut make your holes larger.
7. Blow your egg until there is no more fluid inside it.
8. Rinse under running water.
9. Blow again!

Step 3:


Once your egg is dried you will of course want to apply your design with a pencil.
For drawing straight lines down, around, and even diagonally across your egg it is best to use my tape measure method, and make marks on the egg connecting them once you have finished all the marks.
For pictures what you do is only limited by your own imaginations limits.
Now in this instance i did not have any specific colors marked out to be placed in my sketch, but if you do plan on that keep your rough sketch alongside you in all circumstances to be cross checked with what you are doing.

Step 4: Dyeing and Kistka

           Pysanky is a batik process at its core. The color order used when dying is White, Yellow, Gold, Light Green, Light Blue, Turquoise, Orange, Light Brown , Brick, Pink, Scarlet, Cherry, Dark Brown, Dark Brick.      
           Dark Green, Royal Blue, Purple, and Dark Red are the final colors and if you plan on using any of them other than dark red you will have to take your cotton, dampen it with vinegar and remove the color from the areas not covered in wax completely. Make sure you do not disturb the wax after it is applied... yet.

1. Take your kistka in your hand similar to the way you hold a pencil for shading and hold it over the flame of a light candle for 30 seconds.  With the wide side of your kistka, Scoop beeswax into your kistka, and re-heat it over your flame. Draw on your egg where you want the current color of your egg to stay.
2. Dye the next color and repeat step 1.
(cover holes on either side of the egg with rounds of beeswax and heat to seal before dyeing)

tips & tricks - if when you're dyeing one of the colors the color gets bubbly, and a sort of a filminess to the color wipe all the color of with vinegar. To get the darker color you wanted then let it sit in the dye for 5 min then let it dry and repeat till you get the desired color.

Step 5: Wax Removal

When removing the wax avoid placing the egg directly over the flame. It weakens, and is bad for the dye and the egg. Keep to the side of the flame to melt it off, and wipe often on a towel.

Step 6: Finished Product


I decide to do something to celebrate our modern Easter celebration, but you can take a more traditional option. Enjoy your finished product and happy crafting!

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