How do you make a quill?

Materials You'll Need:

• Feather: Goose feathers are traditional, but turkey, swan, or even seagull feathers can work

• Sharp Knife or Scissors: For cutting the feather

• Sandpaper: Optional, for smoothing the quill

• Ink: To write with your quill

Steps:

1. Select the Feather: Choose a large feather with a thick shaft. The quill's size depends on your comfort, so pick one that feels good in your hand.

2. Prepare the Feather: Clean the feather gently if necessary. Remove any barbs (fluffy parts) near the shaft if they interfere with your grip.

3. Trim the Quill: With a sharp knife or scissors, cut the end of the quill at an angle. This cut should be about 1 inch (2.5 cm) up the shaft and should form a point.

4. Shape the Tip: Carefully shape the tip of the feather into a flat, pointed shape, almost like a chisel.

5. Hollow the Shaft: Use your knife to split the point slightly and hollow out the inside. This helps hold ink.

6. Refine the Point: Sharpen and smooth the tip to ensure a steady ink flow. Use sandpaper if needed.

7. Test and Adjust: Dip your quill into ink and test it on paper. Adjust the shape if necessary to improve ink flow and comfort.

Final Touch:

Decorate your quill with some ribbon or paint if you wish! There you go! Now you're ready to write like the greats of the past.