How do I take care of Porcupine quills

[Ed Brooks]

its that time of year again, found the 1st rd kill yesterday, and got some quills. My question, should I wash them? Leave them dirty? I’m thinking the more I handle them , I may wreck them or end up stuck with them. Another big question. are they good trading stock on here?  Ed

[osage outlaw]

Are quills hollow?  If so, I would be interested in trading for some. 

This might be a dumb question but is there any risk of puncturing a tire if you hit a porcupine?

[Ed Brooks]

 O O.
     Not hollow, but pithy, I’d call it. There’s a some chance of getting a flat. But the quills lay down and point backward when he’s not in a riled up. I can send ya some quills to play with if you’d like. Ed

[bjrogg]

I think Pat B was looking for some awhile back. It was in the trade section maybe?
Bjrogg

[Ed Brooks]

I think Pat B was looking for some awhile back. It was in the trade section maybe?
Bjrogg

Thank you. I sent Pat the very few I had in an old hat, from that post. There’s now a few more headed his way. Ed

[Pat B]

As you can imagine, Ed I'm interested in this too. Rebecca Parker, James' wife, would clip off the point end and the butt end and soak the quills in water to soften them enough to flatten them to do her quill work. I think the quill is made from keratin like fingernails. I had a chance to watch Becca doing her quill work and ask her questions about quill work at the Classic. 

[Hawkdancer]

Pat,
Saw this thread, and said "Opps!  Brain fart!  I didn't send out the quills!"  That will be rectified tomorrow!  Also, found a brief set of instructions from the American Indian Room, will try to get a copy made for you, and "A Beginner's Handbook of Porcupine Qullwork" by Barbara Meuller, I think it was self published.  I got it from her at a rendezvous in the late '80's or early 90's.  There are probably several newer books available.
Hawkdancer

[YosemiteBen]

pull em out n wash em in dawn dish soap as they are really dirty! they accept dyes pretty well if you want different colors. definitely tradeable. my coworker uses them a fair bit in beadwork appliques.

[Ed Brooks]

Thank you Ben. I’ll start washing these off from now on. Do you need to cut the ends off to dye them?  Ed

[YosemiteBen]

once they are clean you can dye them. you shouldn't need to cut them for that.
A long beading needle will push trough the "pith" if you want to use them like beads in earrings. Eastern tribes used the needles to applique birch bark too. Google porcupine quill crafts n see what pops up for ideas.
The styrofoam like center to the quills is what helps them swim.

[Hawkdancer]

You might want to snip off the barbs -they are sharp and stick in you real easy!
Hawkdancer

[GlisGlis]

found a very informative site about pourcupine quillworks. how to process, dye and various techniques. great resource, very interesting 
check:
www nativetech dot org slash quill (pa policy forbid direct links)

[Hawkdancer]

Time to put the styrofoam cooler in the car along with extra gloves!

Pat B,  they are on the way, should be there Monday!  Washed, not de-barbed.  Otherwise ready to use.  Have fun!
Hawkdancer

[Pat B]

Thanks Jerry. Really appreciated. Can I send you something in return?
GlisGlis, thanks for the info. I'll surely check it out.

[Hawkdancer]

Wait 'til you get them, maybe a couple of broadheads.  Got some Sitka ordered from Wayne, and some POC to get ready for hunting season!
Jerry