How to Make a Quill Pen

Quill pens were the preferred writing instrument of Victorian-era scribes due to their pressure sensitivity and ability to respond well to various volumes of ink.

Quills are constructed using primary flight feathers shed by birds during their annual moulting cycle and feature a sharp point known as a calamus with an opening through which ink may flow freely.

Feathers

Feather pens can be tricky to use, but their beautiful and unique results speak for themselves. Their thick or thin lines depend on how the pen is held and are very pressure sensitive – not to mention they clog easily with certain types of paper!

Traditional quill pens were constructed using the primary flight feathers (or primaries) from geese or swans, although turkey feathers have become quite popular in North America as an alternative source. Other birds such as owls, crows and macaws may also be utilized; then these feathers would be formed into nibs with an opening at their center that allows ink to pass through.

Start by submerging the feather in water to soften it, either in your kitchen sink with warm to hot water or some people recommend adding bleach for extra softening power. Once softened, cut off its barrel tip removing its membrane as this may make writing with it more difficult.

Nibs

Quill pens offer an exceptional look and feel, being much more pressure sensitive than conventional ball point pens; their lines may vary in width depending on your hand pressure and how the nib has been designed.

Traditional quill materials were typically the first flight feathers (primaries) from geese or swans; turkey feathers have also become increasingly popular in North America. Feathers may be purchased at craft stores or collected directly from people’s birds that molt; hunting reserves also often collect these materials to sell later on for extra income.

To cure a quill, the barrel of its feather should be submerged in sand for several hours until its hard and stiff appearance appears, without deform or splitting under pressure. While there is no universal consensus as to the exact time needed in the sand for curing purposes, most agree that its color should transform from milky white into yellow-ish, semi transparent waxy appearance with very stiff and unyielding characteristics that do not deform or split under pressure.

Ink

Ink was an integral component of quill pens. It was typically created by boiling the hulls of black walnuts until a dark hue emerged, perfect for writing on paper, papyrus and other materials. Water, salt and vinegar were often added to keep it fresh; cloves could even be added for an odor-reducing touch.

Medieval scribes utilized quill pens as essential tools. Most were constructed using goose or swan feathers, although feathers from other birds such as crows, turkeys and owls could also be utilized for quill fabrication.

These days, many pens are constructed from wood or bamboo with metal nibs attached. Writing with quill pens requires practice and an understanding of capillary action as well as pressure application; this may vary depending on paper surface type and style; reading books and practicing are great ways to learn this craft.

Paper

Writing with a quill pen has long been one of the most beloved forms of calligraphic art throughout history. Although it requires practice to become skilled at it, quill pen calligraphy is highly rewarding and widely practiced today on computerized calligraphic work platforms; but something about using ink and feather to craft works of art makes them feel more personal than printed pages. To begin making one yourself, soak its feather’s end in white vinegar for two days until its feather dries completely and is ready for use.