How To Write With A Quill

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The art of writing with a quill pen interests people from many walks of life—artists, students, teachers, etc. Though non as popular as other modern writing utensils, the feather quill is nevertheless made and broadly used today. The aforementioned is true of more recently invented metallic-nibbed (tipped) pens and fountain pens.^[1] While using a quill pen requires more steps than using a ball-point pen, it's easy to main with a little flake of fourth dimension and patience.

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   Use a cushion. Place a apartment felt cushion under the paper. This will go on the quill nib sharper longer.^[2] A quill pen can only be sharpened so many times before information technology becomes unusable. Pens that don't have to be sharpened equally oftentimes volition last longer.

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   Hold the quill similar a regular pen. Let the quill residual between your thumb and forefinger. Grip the surface area to a higher place the nib with you lot pollex and forefinger. If the quill is made from a natural feather, don't squeeze too hard. Otherwise, you could crack it and make it unusable.

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   Dip the quill in the ink. Submerge the nib in the inkwell. Slowly draw it up. Scrape the excess ink off the beak and dorsum into the well. Also much ink will bleed through the paper, possibly wasting an entire sheet. If y'all don't become enough ink on the quill, you tin at least redip it into the ink. You'll take to dip your quill regularly every bit y'all write. Each dip will requite you about three to six words.^[three]

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   Position the nib at an bending. Communication ranges from a downward bending of 45 degrees to perpendicular (ninety degrees). The beak should confront left for right-handed people and right for left-handed people. This will ensure thin, manageable lines. If your nib faces straight up or down, information technology will produce lines that are too thick to form legible words.

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   Write until you lot need to dip your quill over again. Apply very light pressure level to the paper.^[4] Too much pressure level could suspension your pen, tear the paper, or slow the pecker besides quickly. As yous write, endeavour to do and so until you lot demand to redip your pen. Stopping also often will cause unsightly ink blobs on your paper.

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   Cease with sand. When y'all have finished writing, sprinkle sand on top of the inked paper. This will soak up whatsoever excess ink without destroying your writing. Let the sand sit for a few minutes. Then, either shake or blow the sand off the paper.^[v] You should practice this either outside or over a trash can to avoid making a mess.

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   Rinse the nib. Whether the neb is the shaft of a feather or a metal nib, you should rinse it thoroughly with water afterwards writing. This volition prolong your quill'south lifespan and ensure the quality of the instrument is maintained.

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   Dry the nib. If you lot use a natural feather pen, let the cleaned shaft air dry out. It will reconstitute and harden on its own.^[6] A metal nib, on the other hand, should be dried gently with a cloth towel or paper towel. Like whatsoever form of metallic, information technology can rust if water is left on the surface too long.

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1. 1

   Go to a specialty store. Quill pens are not available everywhere. The easiest place to notice quill pens is an online store such as Etsy or Amazon or your local art supply store. If you lot live near a celebrated site, you could bank check the souvenir store for inexpensive quill pens.

   • Traditional quill pens are large feathers whose shafts have been hollowed out equally ink reservoirs. These pens tend to have softer tips that are less likely to puncture paper.^[seven]
   • Quill pens with metal nibs have been widely bachelor since the early nineteenth century.^[viii]
   • If yous're feeling crafty, yous can make your own pen.

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   Sharpen natural quills. If you accept a traditional quill fabricated entirely from a plumage, you will accept to acuminate the nib periodically.^[9] One telltale sign of a dull bill is an increased amount of ink flooding onto the paper. Using a penknife, extend the slit in the centre of the shaft. Trim a small corporeality from each side the nib in diagonal strokes. After that, flatten the within of the nib and snip off whatsoever excess shaft hanging from the tip.^[10]

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   Monitor the ink buildup on metallic nibs. Blot the beak frequently during the writing process. You can do this with a scrap canvas of paper, a paper towel, or old rag. If whatsoever ink has dried on the metallic, gently scrape information technology off with a pen knife.^[xi] Dried ink will corrode a metal nib if it is allowed to stay on the surface.

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   Cull ink fabricated for quill pens. Ink consistency is fundamental. Choose ink that's opaque but also thin enough to produce legible writing. Avoid India ink considering its consistency is both thick and viscous and won't flow as freely.

   • Calligraphy ink is a pop selection.
   • Iron gall ink, originally used past medieval monks, is yet available at craft stores like Etsy. Today, you could choose traditional black ink or a diverseness of other colors.^[12]
   • For tight budgets, liquid grape juice concentrate is a feasible alternative.^[13]

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   Brainstorm with thicker paper. When you first utilize your feather quill pen, y'all should brainstorm with thicker paper. Stationery, construction paper, or textured printing paper is a good pick. Continue to use thicker paper until you get comfortable with pressure and style best suited for writing with a feather quill.

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   Progress to conventional newspaper. After yous do on thicker paper, you lot'll exist able to write with your feather quill on any newspaper surface. You tin can choose from conventional lined notebook paper or computer paper. Yet, if you prefer a traditional look, y'all tin can opt for parchment paper.

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Add New Question

• Question

  What happens if I absorb my paper on accident?

  

  If y'all are simply learning and you lot but have thin paper on hand, lay a canvas under the one you are writing on. Information technology volition soak up excess ink.

• Question

  How do I replace the nibs?

  

  Metal nibs should come out of the shaft by just pulling at them with a little force. Brand certain you lot don't curve the nib in the process, though.

• Question

  What is the pecker of a quill?

  

  The bill is the very tip, the function y'all write with.

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Things You'll Need

• Quill pen
• Modest knife
• Calligraphy ink
• White printer paper
• Textured paper (optional)
• Sand

About This Article

Article Summary 10

Writing with a plumage quill tin be a fun way to write neat letters and notes. To continue the pecker sharp for longer, place a flat felt cushion or tea towel nether your paper. Grip your quill like a pen, but above the nib. When yous're set to write, dip the nib in your ink and scrape off the backlog on the inside of the bottle neck. Agree your quill between a 45- and 90-degree bending so your lines won't come out also thin or thick. Write until your nib starts to dry upwardly, then dip it in your ink again. After your writing session, rinse the bill in clean water to avoid staining it. For more than tips, including how to sharpen a natural quill, read on!

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