Table of Contents
How is quillwork done?
Quillwork, or the use of dyed, flattened porcupine quills as a means of decoration, is unique to the indigenous people of North America. Dyed with aniline dyes or in “teas” made of natural materials, the quills are softened in the mouth and then wrapped around thread or sinew stitched to tanned leather.
How do you prepare porcupine quills for beading?
The first step is always to clean the quills by simmering them in hot water and then wiping them clean. Match them up in size and colors for your project, and cut off the sharp tips on both ends. Until they are cut, handle the quills with care. They are sharp!Dec 12, 2011.
How are porcupine quills harvested?
Traditional harvesting of quills entails tossing a blanket onto the back of the porcupine, and when the porcupine crawls out from under the blanket, the quills are stuck to the fabric. They’ve come over to the fishcamp to help me harvest porcupine quills.
What is quillwork soaking porcupine?
What is quillwork? a. soaking porcupine and bird quills with natural dyes and working them into surface patterns on other objects.
How long do you soak porcupine quills?
Try soaking the quills in a very hot but not boiling solution of dish soap and water (I find DAWN works best for me, but any will do). Soak them with frequent stirring for anywhere from 10 minutes to a half an hour. You may just have had an older porcupine with very oilly quills, but this should do the trick.
How do you make a porcupine quill necklace?
Sand the pointed ends of the quills where the barbs are lightly just to remove the sharp points off the barbs. Attach and end cap to each quill with GS cement and let dry. Cut leather cord to desired length. Add quills with 5-7 jump rings in between for spacing. Attach two more end caps to the ends of the leather.
How do Native Americans use porcupine quills?
Uses of Porcupine Quillwork Quills were folded, twisted, wrapped, plaited and sewn using a wide range of techniques to decorate articles of clothing, bags, knife sheaths, baskets, wooden handles and pipe stems. This quillwork has been and continues to be used to decorate the basketry of various Native American tribes.
How do you clean porcupine quills for jewelry?
To clean the plucked quills, remove any fur or detritus, and then soak the quills in hot soapy water, rinse, and repeat until the quills are a nice bright white color. This should remove the oils from the quill, and make dying them much easier.
Why do Native Americans use porcupine quills?
Before European traders introduced glass beads, indigenous communities across North America used brightly colored porcupine quills for decorating surfaces of clothing and utilitarian objects. The porcupine uses its quills as a defense mechanism.
Are porcupines killed for their quills?
They are also killed for their quills, which are used as ornaments and talismans. In North Africa they are killed and sold to be used in traditional medicine.
Can you get quills from a dead porcupine?
You just take out your old bluejeans, spread them on the poor dead animal, and tread on it. The quills will all stick onto the fabric, which you can fold up carefully and take home Later, you can pull them out gently with a pair of pliers. Top view porcupine quill birch bark basket.
What does quillwork mean?
Definition of quillwork : ornamental work in porcupine or bird quills.
How do you make porcupine quill earrings?
Want to make a pair of porcupine quill earrings? Thread your beading needle with about 30 inches of doubled up, waxed thread and knot. Go through the left side of one of your leather spacers, add 2 beads, 1 bugle bead and then 2 more beads, now add your other spacer and go through the left side of that one too.
Which tribe was famous for its quill work?
Upon entering the Society, women would work first on quilling moccasins, then cradleboards, rosettes for men’s shirts and tipis, and ultimately, hide robes and backrests. The Blackfoot Native American tribe in the Northwest region of North America also put much significance on women who did quillwork.
Are porcupine quills antibiotic properties?
Porcupine quills possess antibiotic properties. The antibiotic activity is associated with free fatty acids (but not neutral lipids) coating the quills. Extracts of quill fatty acids strongly inhibited the growth of six grampositive bacterial strains. Quill antibiotics may limit self-injury suffered in such falls.
What is porcupine guard hair used for?
The long, fine guard hair used in making hair roaches. Packaged in 4-6 inch bundles containing enough varied length hair for a 15 inch roach.
How do you dye porcupine quills with RIT?
of Rit® dye in water. Bring to a boil, add small bundle of quills to dye mixture. Simmer for three minutes . If it simmers for too long the quills will go flat and have to be thrown away.
Do porcupines quills grow back?
Porcupines have soft hair, but on their back, sides, and tail it is usually mixed with sharp quills. These quills typically lie flat until a porcupine is threatened, then leap to attention as a persuasive deterrent. Porcupines grow new quills to replace the ones they lose.
Are porcupine quills painful?
The quills of a porcupine are not toxic but can be extremely painful and cause injuries. If you get spiked by a porcupine’s quills, it is best not to attempt to remove the quills on your own. It is much safer to go to a doctor or a veterinarian to help remove them. This will also cause less pain when being removed.
