Quills in hot water?
Just read on the parkin fabrics facebook page that they recommend putting quills in hot water to soften them before curling. I thought this was interesting. Does anyone else use this method?
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Anne Livingston
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Yes. I soak quills in hot water for a while, then curl them with a curling iron. It works a treat. Can't remember how long to soak them, maybe half an hour to an hour.
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Permalink Reply by Elsie Collins
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Makes perfect sense, otherwise they might crack. I will try this on my catalpa pods, that are in abundance in our yard in the fall!!
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Permalink Reply by Ruth Connor
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yes, I was shown this a few weeks ago at a feather workshop. they soften up beautifully, and you can also straighten the quills if you go wrong, by just pouring boiling water from the kettle over them
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Permalink Reply by Dannielle Kukar
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Yes. A while back, l learned to treat "feathers like hair" and quills "like nails". They are, after all, protein. Also, of course, when placing dyed feathers in hot water, remember to keep same colors together. No matter how good a dye, no sense in risking bleed-off.
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Permalink Reply by Sharon Panozzo
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I do not use hot water but I always give them a good steam first.
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Permalink Reply by Jain Kidsley
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Yes a soak and curl them gently around something, I have used straighteners, but have not got on too well with the curling tongs.
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Permalink Reply by Janine Newell
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I have just tried my new heat gun on the quills and it works really well. You just have to be careful not to hold it too close.
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Permalink Reply by Ruth Connor
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That's interesting, maybe I will try the hairdryer, though I suspect softening with steam or water is safer
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Permalink Reply by Bridget Early
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I use steam, but at times will soak quills that are particularly difficult.
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Permalink Reply by Tiffany Arey
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Hi Kylie - thanks for posting this. I've been using hot water so glad to know I'm not crazy :-). I heat up a large pot of water and dip in my ostrich quills to soften and start them curling, then use a flat iron or curling iron to finish.
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Permalink Reply by Courtney Q. Brown
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This is awesome information!!!
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Permalink Reply by Silpa Kohler
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I was going to ask this very question today so happy to have found this thread.
So we think about 30 mins in boiling water and then curl them around something? I haven't had much joy with an iron or curling tongs... I can get some shape into them but not the tighter curls I'm after (and sometimes the quill can snap).
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