DIY Easter String Egg
How do you make an Easter string egg?
A string egg is a hollow decoration made by wrapping glue-soaked yarn around a balloon, letting it dry hard, then popping the balloon. It is a good project for children because the messy part is the fun part.
The method: blow up a balloon, mix equal parts water and Selleys Aquadhere Interior in a container, soak the yarn in it, wrap the balloon, hang it up to dry completely, then pop the balloon and remove it.
The step that decides whether it works is the drying. The shell only holds its shape once the glue has fully hardened, and popping the balloon before then collapses the egg.
What you need
- Selleys Aquadhere Interior
- Water
- A plastic container — a takeaway container is ideal
- A spoon for mixing
- 8 metres of cotton yarn or wool
- A balloon
- Somewhere to hang it — a clothesline works
How to make it
- Blow up the balloon to the size you want the egg to be.
- Mix the glue. Combine equal parts water and Selleys Aquadhere Interior in the container and stir with a spoon.
- Soak the yarn. Place the wool or yarn into the glue mixture, making sure it does not tangle, and that it is completely covered in glue.
- Wrap the balloon haphazardly with the soaked yarn.
- Hang it up to dry on the clothesline.
- Pop the balloon once it is completely dry, and remove it through one of the gaps.
Why the details matter
Equal parts water and glue. Diluting the PVA is what lets it soak all the way through the yarn rather than coating the outside of it. A yarn that is only coated dries into a stiff string; one that is saturated dries into a rigid strut, which is what gives the finished egg its structure.
Feed the yarn in without tangling it. Yarn that knots in the container has to be pulled apart with glue-covered fingers, and it usually breaks. Lower it in loosely and draw it out from one end.
Wrap haphazardly. Crossing the yarn over itself in random directions is what makes the shell hold together — each crossing point becomes a glued joint. Neat parallel wraps have far fewer crossings and the shell falls apart when the balloon comes out.
Hang it rather than resting it on a surface. A drying egg sitting on a bench flattens on one side and sticks to whatever it is on. Hanging it lets air get all the way round, which also speeds the drying.
Wait until it is completely dry. PVA dries from the outside in, and yarn wrapped several layers deep holds moisture underneath. If the shell still feels cool or slightly flexible, it is not ready.
About the glue
Aquadhere Interior is a water-based PVA (polyvinyl acetate) adhesive. It cleans up with water while wet, and it dries clear, which is why the finished egg shows the yarn colour rather than a white film.
Its limitations: Aquadhere Interior is interior only, not waterproof and not suitable for structural use. For this project that means one thing in particular — the finished egg is an indoor decoration. A string egg hung outside will soften in rain or heavy dew and lose its shape. Drying it outdoors on the line is fine; leaving it there is not.
For woodwork that lives outdoors, Aquadhere Exterior is the weatherproof PVA in the range, though it is a woodworking adhesive rather than a craft material.
Clean up
Uncured PVA comes off hands, the container and the spoon with water. Once cured it has to be sanded or scraped, so wash everything before the mixture dries — and put newspaper down under the drying line, because the egg drips.
Common questions about string eggs
How much glue and water do I use?
Equal parts water and Selleys Aquadhere Interior, mixed in a container.
How much yarn do I need?
Around 8 metres of cotton yarn or wool for one egg.
How long does it take to dry?
Until it is completely dry — hang it on the line and leave it. Thicker wrapping and humid weather both extend the time, and popping the balloon early collapses the egg.
Why do I have to wrap it randomly?
Each point where the yarn crosses itself becomes a glued joint. Random wrapping creates many crossings, which is what holds the shell together once the balloon is gone.
How do I stop the yarn tangling in the glue?
Lower it into the container loosely and draw it out from one end rather than pushing the whole length in at once.
How do I get the balloon out?
Pop it once the egg is completely dry, then pull the deflated balloon out through one of the gaps in the yarn.
Can I leave the egg outside?
No. Aquadhere Interior is interior only and not waterproof, so the finished egg is an indoor decoration.
Can I use a different glue?
This project is built around Aquadhere Interior diluted with water. Other adhesives in the range are woodworking or repair products rather than craft materials.
Is it safe for children?
Aquadhere Interior is a water-based PVA that cleans up with water. Adults should read the product label and supervise, and the balloon itself needs adult supervision with small children.
Can I paint or decorate the egg?
Use coloured yarn for the simplest result, since the dried glue is clear. Anything added afterwards has to be light enough not to distort the shell.
How do I clean up?
Water, while the glue is wet. Put newspaper under the drying egg — it drips.
What else can I make with this glue?
See DIY air dry clay and the rest of the repairs and craft guides.
How much glue and water do I use?
Equal parts water and Selleys Aquadhere Interior, mixed in a container.
How much yarn do I need?
Around 8 metres of cotton yarn or wool for one egg.
How long does it take to dry?
Until it is completely dry — hang it on the line and leave it. Thicker wrapping and humid weather both extend the time, and popping the balloon early collapses the egg.
Why do I have to wrap it randomly?
Each point where the yarn crosses itself becomes a glued joint. Random wrapping creates many crossings, which is what holds the shell together once the balloon is gone.
How do I stop the yarn tangling in the glue?
Lower it into the container loosely and draw it out from one end rather than pushing the whole length in at once.
How do I get the balloon out?
Pop it once the egg is completely dry, then pull the deflated balloon out through one of the gaps in the yarn.
Can I leave the egg outside?
No. Aquadhere Interior is interior only and not waterproof, so the finished egg is an indoor decoration.
Can I use a different glue?
This project is built around Aquadhere Interior diluted with water. Other adhesives in the range are woodworking or repair products rather than craft materials.
Is it safe for children?
Aquadhere Interior is a water-based PVA that cleans up with water. Adults should read the product label and supervise, and the balloon itself needs adult supervision with small children.
Can I paint or decorate the egg?
Use coloured yarn for the simplest result, since the dried glue is clear. Anything added afterwards has to be light enough not to distort the shell.
How do I clean up?
Water, while the glue is wet. Put newspaper under the drying egg — it drips.
What else can I make with this glue?
See DIY air dry clay and the rest of the repairs and craft guides.