This one-day intensive is designed to introduce students to the art of quilling as we honor the porcupine. Using porcupine quills, students will learn to sew them onto home-tanned moose hide. Students will learn the zig-zag technique and will make a small leather pouch. By the end of the day, students will have learned how to harvest a porcupine, how to dye the quills, and how to sew them onto leather. Jean will cover how to safely use the quills and how to continue the practice using a bundle of tools and porcupine quills for further exploration. Porcupine quills have been used by Anishinaabeg and many other Indigenous nations as a traditional material to create. Students ages 16+ may register for this course independently.

Required Tools

• A tool/quill bundle will be provided for each participant.
• This class involves hand sewing. Please bring eye magnification if you need it.

This course is part of Hide Week 2026. Plan to arrive a day early for the Tanner’s Conference Day on Friday, May 15, which features demonstrations, speakers, and community gatherings offered as a benefit to students enrolled in Hide Week coursework. Full schedule available online in winter 2026.