Category: pysanky

Getting the guts out of a pysanka

I’ve been making #pysanky almost every day during this period of isolation. Some people have asked how I get the guts out of the egg so I took some pictures of the steps.

Once the egg has all the patterns applied with wax and has come out of the final dye (black in this case) I seal the bottom of the egg with a covering of wax to protect the dye pattern from egg leakage and then, using a straight pin, pierce one end in three close spots like the corners of a tiny triangle. Then I remove the shell in the middle. I stick a long needle (darning needle works great) inside the egg to break the yolk, then using a 1 oz medical syringe, I blow air into the shell over the sink and let the guts run out, being careful not to put in too much at a time because the egg could explode. Once the guts are pretty much out, I fill the syringe with warm water and rinse the insides, then with the corners of a twisted tissue, blot inside the hole as much as I can and also remove any membrane that’s covering the hole with an exacto knife. You don’t want the hole to be blocked when you put it in the microwave! All it takes is 10 seconds in the microwave and the wax melts. You pick it up gently with tissue and buff off the rest of the wax. And then you’re done! I usually let a finished pysanka rest, hole down, in an egg cup with a bit of tissue in the bottom so it can completely dry out.

This egg is a Trypillian design, which is pre-Christian.

  • Just out of the final dye.
  • I’ve covered the end with melted beeswax to protect the dye from errant raw egg guts.
  • Piercing the end, using a straight pin, making three tiny holes in the shape of a tiny triangle.
  • I’ve removed the bit of shell from in the middle of the holes, then stuck a darning needle inside to break the yolk.
  • Using a 1 oz (30cc) syringe, I insert air into the opening as I hold the egg over the sink so the egg guts can vomit out.
  • Once the egg is emptied and the insides rinsed out, the membrane needs to me removed from the opening with an exacto knife.
  • It’s also wise to twist up a tissue an blot out as much moisture from inside as you can.
  • With the hole clear and insides empty, put in microwave for 10 seconds.
  • Wax is melting and pysanka is HOT so take out carefully by wrapping a clean tissue around it.
  • Buff off the wax. Done!
  • This is one of my favourite designs — Trypillian.

Duck egg pysanky

Perfect timing. My husband and I decided to self-isolate during this time of COVID-19. Robin Kirby, a local raiser of ducks, delivered fresh duck eggs to my door! I’ve been having some fun with them! The dyes take differently on duck eggs, so after my first (top left) I switched to a wider kistka and didn’t leave the egg soaking in the dyes, but instead, just dipped or applied with a Q-tip.