IAMPETH 2025 - Quill Cutting - Anne Weatherly Stephens

ALL SKILL LEVELS | BROAD-EDGE PEN

Have you wondered what it was like to write with quills rather than the metal nibs we use today? How did those scribes of the past do it so successfully? In this class, you will learn about quill preparation, how to cut a quill to use in your broad-edge lettering, and tips to maintain it. Then you get to experience the unique pleasure of writing with a quill. It is quite different than working with even the best metal nibs.

Once we cut the quills, we will do some writing, so if you want to bring along a short favorite quote, please do. At the end of this class, you should come away with two or more quills that you will be able to use for lettering, along with some writing samples from testing the quills.

CLASS SUPPLIES

• Cured goose or turkey feathers (4-5)
• Quill knife (if you have one) or Xacto knife with blade size 22 (requires a larger ergonomic handle)
• Honing compound and strop (or substitute)
• Utility knife (NOT the kind with break-off blades)
• Scissors (for cutting thin metal)
• Clean soda can (3”x3” square of metal will be fine)
• Small stamp pad (any color; instructor will have some to share)
• Hard cutting surface (small sample piece of kitchen countertop granite works well; instructor will have some to share)
• Leather thumb guard or leather thimble (available in sewing supplies at craft stores; ensure it fits your dominant hand thumb) - Alternative: Cut the thumb from a leather glove or use medical fabric tape
• Sandpaper (600-1000 grit, small piece)
• 10x or 30x loupe (for inspecting the quill nib)
• Piece of wire (7-8”, about the gauge of coat hanger wire, with the end hooked over) or fine steel crochet hook (for cleaning out the quill of the feather)
• 10-12 cotton swabs
• Writing fluid: black stick ink preferred, sumi ink, or gouache
• Small bottle of distilled water (for thinning your writing fluid)
• Paper for testing the quill
• Ziploc bag and packet of silica gel (for storing your cut quills)

OPTIONAL SUPPLIES

• Scraps or a small piece of prepared vellum (for testing)
• Calligraphy supplies for writing out your short quote:
  • Ruler
  • Guidelines
  • Good paper or prepared vellum
• Wire cutters