Porcupine quills

[Tengu]

Hardly european......

But I have a bundle of quills, they are used as fishing floats but I was wondering if there was a more interesting use for them?

 

[singteck]

You can make them into dip pens.

singteck

 

[-Switch-]

I was at Port Lympne animal park earlier this year and they were selling porcupine quills. Next to the box where they were displayed was a note suggesting some uses for them.
I can't for the life of me remember what any of the suggestions were

 

[-Switch-]

I was at Port Lympne animal park earlier this year and they were selling porcupine quills. Next to the box where they were displayed was a note suggesting some uses for them.
I can't for the life of me remember what any of the suggestions were

S0rry, that wasn't very helpful was it?

Just had a bit of a look round and apparently the Native Americans use them alot for decoration on clothing and jewellery. Looks like the done thing is to flatten them with the teeth then drill a small hole in the wider end and thread them onto pretty much whatever you like.
They've also been used as arrowheads and the tips of darts, although I'm not too confident they'd be strong enough for that.

 

[Eric_Methven]

Google 'Native American Quillwork'

Eric

 

[John Fenna]

I have used one of the ones I picked up in South Africa as a sewing needle, others as hat decoration, along with feathers, while the others await ideas!
John

 

[Stuart]

I've seen them used to make beads, rattles and arrow heads for hunting birds

 

[RobertRogers]

The quills are very decorative. I Like to collect some when I find a dead porky in the woods - the fisher cats kill them and hollow them out, leaving the quill covered backs and tails behind.