Quill Feather (R2)

knitted quill feather

Knit your own feather quill! Available in tail (symmetrical) and wing (unsymmetrical) versions, these knitted feathers have a lengthwise hollow to contain a pen or pencil.

A printable version of this pattern is available.

You will need:

  • yarn that matches pen/pencil colour (dk weight)
  • 3 x double ended knitting needles (3mm)
  • pen or pencil
  • tapestry needle
  • scissors

Pattern:

(A list of abbreviations is available.)

Tail Feather:

Loosely cast on 6 sts and arrange so there are three stitches on each of two needles. Join these stitches into the round.

  1. Rounds 1 to 5: k –

The shaft of the feather is knitted in the same way for the bulk of the pattern. We will be using the special abbreviation QF which represents the following line of instructions:

[yfwd, sl1, ybck, k1] x2, yfwd, sl1, ybck, kfb

The remainder of the feather is worked in the flat. Rearrange the stitches onto a single needle by slipping one stitch from the back needle, then one from the front, until all stitches are transferred.

  1. Row 6: QF (7)
  2. Row 7: p1, QF (8)
  3. Row 8: p1, QF, k1 (9)
  4. Row 9: p1, k1, QF, k1 (10)
  5. Row 10: p1, k1, QF, p1, k1 (11)
  6. Row 11: p1, k1, p1, QF, p1, k1 (12)
  7. Row 12: p1, k1, p1, QF, k1, p1, k1 (13)
  8. Row 13: [p1, k1] x2, QF, k1, p1, k1 (14)
  9. Row 14: [p1, k1] x2, QF, [p1, k1] x 2 (15)
  10. Row 15: k2tog, p1, k1, p1, QF, [p1, k1] x2 (15)
  11. Row 16: k2tog, p1, k1, p1, QF, [k1, p1] x2 (15)
  12. Row 17: p2togtbl, k1, p1, k1, QF, [k1, p1] x2 (15)
  13. Row 18: p2togtbl, k1, p1, k1, QF, [p1, k1] x2 (15)

Repeat rows 15 to 18 around ten times total. It can be less or more depending on the length of your pen/pencil.

  1. Row 55: k2tog, p1, k1, p1, [yfwd, sl1, ybck, k1] x3, [p1, k1] x2 (14)
  2. Row 56: k2tog, p1, k1, p1, [k1, yfwd, sl1, ybck] x2, k1, [k1, p1] x2 (13)
  3. Row 57: p2togtbl, k1, p1, k1, [k1, yfwd, sl1, ybck] x2, [k1, p1] x2 (12)
  4. Row 58: p2togtbl, k1, p1, k1, yfwd, sl1, ybck, k1, yfwd, sl1, [p1, k1] x2 (11)
  5. Row 59: k2tog, p1, k1, p1, yfwd, sl1, ybck, k1, [p1, k1] x2 (10)
  6. Row 60: k2tog, p1, k1, p1, pfb, [k1, p1] x2 (10)
  7. Row 61: p2togtbl, [k1, p1] x4 (9)
  8. Row 62: p2togtbl, [k1, p1] x3, k1 (8)
  9. Row 63: k2tog, [p1, k1] x3 (7)
  10. Row 64: k2tog, [p1, k1] x2, p1 (6)

Separate the remaining stitches back out onto two needles by alternately slipping the knit stitches to the front needle and the purl stitches to the back needle.

Graft the remaining stitches together using Kitchener stitch.

Wing Feather:

Work as for Tail Feather Pattern up to the end of Row 12.

  1. Row 13: k2tog, p1, k1, QF, k1, p1, k1 (13)
  2. Row 14: [p1, k1] x2, QF, p1, k1, p1 (14)
  3. Row 15: p2togtbl, k1, p1, QF, [p1, k1] x2 (14)
  4. Row 16: [p1, k1] x2, p1, QF, k1, p1, k1 (15)
  5. Row 17: k2tog, p1, k1, QF, [k1, p1] x2, k1 (15)
  6. Row 18: k2tog, [p1, k1] x2, QF, p1, k1, p1 (15)
  7. Row 19: p2togtbl, k1, p1, QF, [p1, k1] x2, p1 (15)
  8. Row 20: p2togtbl, [k1, p1] x2, QF, k1, p1, k1 (15)

Repeat rows 17 to 20 around ten times total. It can be less or more depending on the length of your pen/pencil.

  1. Row 57: k2tog, p1, k1, [yfwd, sl1, ybck, k1] x3, [k1, p1] x2, k1 (14)
  2. Row 58: k2tog, [p1, k1] x2, [k1, yfwd, sl1, ybck] x2, kfb, p1, k1, p1 (14)
  3. Row 59: p2togtbl, k1, p1, [yfwd, sl1, ybck, k1] x2, yfwd, sl1, [p1, k1] x2, p1 (13)
  4. Row 60: p2togtbl, [k1, p1] x2, yfwd, sl1, ybck, k1, yfwd, sl1, ybck, kfb, k1, p1, k1 (13)
  5. Row 61: k2tog, p1, k1, yfwd, sl1, ybck, k1] x2, [k1, p1] x2, k1 (12)
  6. Row 62: k2tog, [p1, k1] x2, k1, yfwd, sl1, ybck, kfb, p1, k1, p1 (12)
  7. Row 63: p2togtbl, k1, p1, yfwd, sl1, ybck, k1, yfwd, sl1, [p1, k1] x2, p1 (11)
  8. Row 64: p2tog, [k1, p1] x2, yfwd, sl1, ybck, k2, p1, k1 (10)
  9. Row 65: k2tog, [p1, k1] x4 (9)
  10. Row 66: k2tog, [p1, k1] x3, p1 (8)
  11. Row 67: p2togtbl, [k1, p1] x2, k2togtbl (6)

Graft remaining sts as for Tail Feather.

Making Up:

There are only two loose ends that need to be sewn in. Insert a pen or pencil into the hollow and stretch out the feather so that it is approximately flat. The feathers can also be blocked to show more of the ribbing.

Notes:

Needle/Yarn Size

As with most ODDknit patterns the yarn and needle sizes in the "you will need" section are just a guide. Feel free to improvise with whatever needles and yarn you have lying around - that's half the fun!