This project uses the new popular hair clip as the way to fasten feathers in your hair. Small domesticated bird feathers can be used for the feathers. These are from farm grey goose.
Materials needed:
- 2 feathers that face the same direction
- 8 Pony size 5/0 beads
- 8 4mm metal beads
- 2 Spaghetti beads (Ultra thin bone or horn hair pipe can also be used.)
- 1 Ten inch length of 20 gage stainless steel wire
- 1 Hair Clip
Thread the wire through the hole in the closed end of the hair clip to the half way point. Twist the wire about three turns, leaving a loose loop in contact with the hair clip. (Figure 1)
Thread the beads on the wire ends according to your pattern. (Figure 2) Working on a towel spread on a table helps keep the beads from falling all over. When you have the beads on bend the wire so they don't fall off when working with each feather.
Trim the quill of each feather right at the base of the feather's blade. (Figure 3) This is the spot that you plan to have the beads meet the feather.
Cut the first wire so you have at least 2 inches of wire past the beads. (Figure 4) Using a pliers, test the length of the wire needed by forcing the wire up the quill until it is snug. (Figure 5) Pull out and measure the length of wire that went into the quill. Using that measurement, cut off the wire so that the distance from the beads to the end will fit into the quill tightly.
Put a strip of tacky glue on the wire length. (Figure 6) Force the wire into the quill and remove excess glue. (Figure 7)
Complete the same process with the other feather. Let everything dry. You can then snap open the hair clip and put your new decoration in your hair. (Figure 8)
Copyright 2004 by Loren Woerpel, Noc Bay Publishing, Inc.
Last Updated on August 6, 2018 by PowWow Articles
