How To Draw A Quill Pen

A feather quill pen resting in an inkwell on a wooden table, with a blue background

The quill was an early writing tool — one that was easy to make and fun to utilise (for shorter texts, anyway). For those reasons, nosotros decided to dedicate this blog postal service to quills — sharing exactly what they are and how to construct your own at abode.

What is a quill pen?

A quill pen is a writing implement crafted from a bird's wing feather. Popular feather choices at the time of the quill included swan, goose, and turkey — big birds offered large feathers and, therefore, a improve quill.

The exact dates of the quill'south popularity aren't known; however, the Dead Sea Scrolls were partly written with a plume quill pen in 2 BC (known at the time as the Twelvemonth of the Consulship of Augustus and Silvanus).

By the 15^th century, the quill pen'due south popularity was soaring in the western world, and quills remained in favour until the 19^th century and the introduction of the fountain pen.

That's non to say that plume quill pens are entirely retired from apply in the modern world, though; they tin can however be plant in the U.Southward. Supreme Courtroom every fourth dimension it is in session.

Interestingly, quills are used as standard in the fictional wizarding earth of the Harry Potter books and movies (with Muggles using pens and pencils instead). Featured are peacock feather quills, eagle plume quills, and pheasant feather quills.

Some of the feather quills in the Harry Potter series are enhanced with magical backdrop — including auto-reply quills, which are banned during written exams, and anti-cheating quills, which are mandatory in exam conditions.

If you take spotted more quills in the Harry Potter serial, let us know in the comments beneath.

How to make a feather quill pen

The anatomy of a feather

The beefcake of a plume

Subsequently learning more about them, you may now exist wanting to know how to make a plumage quill pen of your own. You'll be pleased to hear that information technology is straightforward — merely follow the steps below.

Source a feather

There are several ways to source a feather for this project. If you happen to own a large bird yourself, you tin collect a dropped feather.

Alternatively, you tin can caput to somewhere where big birds are kept and procure a plume from the flooring at that place.

If you purchase a plume online, delight make sure it was shed naturally, as methods of plume extraction can be very roughshod.

Make clean the feather

Even if your feather looks clean, it can harbour bacteria, so give it a good wash and scrub with soapy h2o and a toothbrush.

Don't worry about damaging the feather — they are stronger than yous call up.

Leave information technology to dry out, and the original fluffy appearance will return.

Create the nib

Close-up of a silver fountain pen nib

When discussing how to cut a quill pen's pecker, it's worth noting hither that a feather's calamus (hollow shaft) is incredibly strong and curved and therefore hard to cutting.

Soaking the tip of the calamus in water overnight may help soften it a little, but it will still be difficult.

Firstly, you demand to cutting the very cease of the calamus off neatly to create a fresh end to work with. Do this carefully, equally the hollow shaft can easily separate and will and so be of no utilize every bit a quill.

Next, concord your feather similar you would a pen and mark the end of the shaft up with a nib shape — but like a fountain pen pecker.

Using a very sharp craft knife and a cut mat, carefully cut pocket-size sections off the calamus at a time to avoid causing unwanted impairment.

In one case yous have a nib shape you lot are happy with, brand the final cut — a slit up the eye of the nib, which will create 2 tines.

Your quill pen is now ready for use!

How to write with a quill pen and ink

To write with a quill pen and produce enchanting handwriting or calligraphy, dip the neb of your quill into an inkwell of calligraphy ink and hold the quill in your hand like you would a fountain pen.

If you savor crafts, you might also enjoy our guide to making amazing jotter in but one hour.