DIY Kuba Cloth Inspired Easter Eggs

You know when you stumble upon something new and then that idea just completely takes over your imagination? That’s how I felt when I first saw Kuba cloth. Kuba cloth is a traditional textile from the Kuba culture and has been quietly appearing across the interior design world. The patterns strike that perfect balance of organized and organic and I’m making it a mini-mission to bring attention to this beautiful art!

From what I can tell, Kuba cloth is usually 2-4 colors of varying tans and blacks (I’m still in the early stages of researching, so if anyone has more information, I’d love to learn more!). These brown eggs reminded me of the raffia used in Kuba cloth and so these Easter eggs were born!

A Brief History Note About Kuba Cloth

Kuba cloth comes from the Kuba people of central Africa. It’s a patch and embroidery based traditional textile made from raffia leaves that literally take the entire community to make. Men traditionally harvest, dye, and weave the leaves and women do the intricate design work. It’s speculated that the patches were first a utilitarian solution to repair delicate raffia cloth then transformed into a storytelling form with different patterns. The Spruce has a great article about the symbolism behind the different shapes, but if anyone has more in-depth resources, please share!

I love the way the article describes the unique Kuba cloth form-  “Kuba textiles demonstrate a taste for interrupting the expected line; they compose through juxtapositions of sharply differing units and abrupt shifts of form.”

If you’ve fallen completely in love with Kuba cloth like I have and want to add an authentic piece to your home, please make sure you research and purchase from an ethical source. It takes multiple days and craftsmen to make even a small piece.

DIY Kuba Cloth Inspired Easter Eggs

You’ll Need
brown eggs
black paint pen

1. Hard-boil your eggs and allow to completely dry and cool. The paint pen won’t go on smoothly if the egg is still warm.
2. Have a few Kuba cloth images on hand for inspiration and start painting your designs. Do half an egg at a time and let dry to prevent smudging.

Are there any patterns or designs you’ve been loving lately? Let us know!