Have you ever found a feather and felt you just had to make it in to a quill pen? If so, this article is for you!

Steps

  1. 1
    Find your feather. You can use just any feather that fits comfortably in your hand (i.e. like a pencil), but a long tail feather is best. You'll want a feather with a not too thin shaft, and one that is long.
  2. 2
    Shave off the fibers closest to where the fibers end. You may leave them if you prefer, but this makes it easier to work with and easier to hold.
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  3. 3
    Leave your feather in water overnight. This is optional, but makes it soft and more easily bent, you will see why later.
  4. 4
    Heat some sand to 350 °F (177 °C) and leave the feather in the sand, on a heat-proof surface, until cool. This, too, is optional; it hardens the feather so you don't have to resharpen it as often.
  5. 5
    Cut your feather at forty-five degrees then make a cut that is opposite the first one at about five degrees (Steepen if necessary).[1] This cut should make two horns. Note: The following prioritizes step three if it isn't done yet!
  6. 6
    Bend the two horns together. This should create a cracking sound and a pretty central slit at the horns.
  7. 7
    Shave off the horns to a not-really-pointy-or-flat point so you don't splatter ink.[2] [3]
  8. 8
    If you want to, you can dye the feather by mixing a hair dye in a clear plastic tub, repeatedly dipping the end of the feather into the dye and gently working through before washing.[4]
  9. 9
    Finished.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    Do I really have to soak it and sand it?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    As stated in the tutorial, no, the soaking and sanding is not mandatory. However, the soaking will make the feather supple, and the sand will strengthen the writing tip. This is certainly recommended if you want to have the quill for prolonged use.
  • Question
    Can I use a feather I found on the roadside?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Yes, but wash it in case it contains parasites.
  • Question
    Can a peacock feather be used?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    That depends on what type of feather it is. If it's a tail or wing plume, absolutely. However, other feathers are often too soft.
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Warnings

  • You will be using sharp and hot objects, adult supervision/help recommended.
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  • If you live in the United States, most bird feathers you find on the ground are illegal to keep according to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Make sure you use feathers from legal birds (chickens, domestic geese, invasive birds, etc.) before you attempt this project. You could get hit with a hefty fine or even jail time!
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Things You'll Need

  • Good feather
  • Sharp pen-knife and/or hobby knife
  • Cup
  • Sand
  • Water
  • Oven
  • Microwave (optional)

About This Article

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 24 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 190,949 times.
330 votes - 88%
Co-authors: 24
Updated: September 20, 2022
Views: 190,949
Categories: Nature Crafts
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