Stroke of Genius

Here’s how to make the special brushes our family uses to apply egg dye. (See my article in Taste of Home Feb/March 2009 to learn more about this Easter tradition.) —Ardyth Cope, TOH Creative Director

You’ll need: 100% cotton twine, round toothpicks and thread.

Visualize a little broom.

  1. Cut approximately 12 inches of twine from the ball.
  2. Wrap twine loosely around your index and middle fingers 4-5 times.
  3. Carefully remove the spooled twine from your fingers, making sure to keep the loops intact.
  4. Insert toothpick halfway into one end of the looped twine.
  5. To secure the looped twine and toothpick, wrap thread tightly around the end where toothpick was inserted. Tie off thread.
  6. Cut open the loops at the other end of the brush; trim ends to make them even.