The pysanka above is called «Верба» (“Verba,” willow) by Onyshchuk.  I am not sure if this is the original name, or one thought up be her; neither do I know from where she obtained this design.  I do know that the above pysanka is incorrectly colored, based on a “corrections” page in my pdf version of Onyshchuk’s book. Due printing problems, many of the colors in her tables were off; what appears to be orange in the pysanka above would correctly be yellow, as in my photo above.

Please make this correction if using the design sheets below.

The motif itself is a version of the svarha/swastika, and ancient sun symbol.  The svarha is a cross in motion, and represents the passage of the sun across the sky.  The writing of pysanky was a part of spring rituals tied to Velykden, the “Big Day.” Since the holiday was tied to spring and the return of th esun, solar symbols were common.

Technical details: This is a nice simple pattern for beginners, although it requires a fair amount of accurate waxing in.  Use a medium stylus for outlines, heavy for waxing in.

Note a mistake: the second egg should be YELLOW, not orange.

The design utilizes three dyes: yellow, red and black.  This is a simple triangles division; the motifs should point round in a clockwise manner.

Download this pattern sheet:

English

Ukrainian