ANATOMY OF A QUILL
There are a variety of porcupine species on the planet, and not all of them have quills which are suitable for play. Please note the quills referenced in this information are North American porcupine quills. Many quills you may find for sale online come from the African Crested Porcupine, which has quills which can measure up to 35cm (14 inches) in length, and can vary in thickness, creating significant wounds when they pierce flesh. African quills are frequently used decoratively, but are so large they may not be conducive to play.
North American porcupine quills are significantly smaller, measuring anywhere from 20-80mm (0.75-3 inches), with the majority of quills averaging about 40mm (1.5 inches) in length. They are composed of keratin, a protein fiber which also forms the composition of human hair. Each quill has a sharp black tip which has approximately 800 micro-barbs which are designed to make the quill difficult and painful to remove, and this is largely where the sensation from quills comes from. The body of the quill is smooth and cylindrical and is naturally an off-white color. At the end of the white body is a small root which attaches the quill to the porcupine loosely in order to release quickly when they stick in something.
At any given time, a North American porcupine will have approximately 30,000 quills. Similar to hair, some will shed naturally over time and regrow. Quills can be harvested from living animals without harming them, or from found carcasses left by predators or cars. All Needle Playground porcupine quills are sourced in an ethical manner (typically from found carcasses) which does not harm or kill the animal. If you have any questions about how I source my quills, feel free to reach out!
SAFETy considerations
Playing with quills is always at your own risk, so please research as necessary so you can make informed decisions about your risk profile. The information provided in this section is intended as an overview of things to consider when determining if playing with porcupine quills is something you want to do. If at any time you think it would be helpful to consult a medical professional, I strongly encourage that.
Quills are not sterile, and cannot be sterilized without damaging the quill due to their organic biological nature. Quills can be thoroughly cleaned to mitigate risk. Needle Playground quills are thoroughly washed several times in soap and water prior to being dyed with non-toxic fiber dye, then soaked in 70% isopropyl alcohol for one hour. The airtight vial has also been cleaned on the interior with alcohol. Another safety measure you can take if you decide to play with quills is to sanitize them as much as possible by applying 70% isopropyl alcohol to the tip prior to insertion, either by dipping or using an alcohol prep pad, and using gloves and sanitary practices during play. Dipping the quill in alcohol is recommended, as the barbs of quills tend to grab fibers from alcohol prep pads and other fibrous materials.
As tree-dwellers, porcupines have the occasional mishap and accidentally stab themselves or other porcupines. They have evolved a natural coating on their quills which acts as an antibiotic for them, but is irritating to human skin. Humans are mildly allergic to this coating, typically resulting in red bumps on the skin (similar to bug bites) for several days. They do not typically itch, but may. Antihistamine and/or antibacterial ointment can help promote healing and relieve any symptoms. More severe allergic reactions are possible, so I recommend having antihistamines and/or an EpiPen on hand if this is a concern. If you have questions or concerns about how you may react to porcupine quills, please consult a medical professional.
Marks are typically very small and disappear with healing, but it is always possible for scarring to occur whenever skin is broken. Depending on skin and personal healing time, marks may last up to several weeks.
Typical aftercare for a play session with quills is the same as for other minor cuts or injuries you might get:
- Manage and clean up any bleeding that might occur (this can be rare with quills, but does happen).
- Apply antibiotic or antihistamine ointment and/or bandages as desired.
- Avoid tight clothing or excessive rubbing for the first 48 hours and keep the wound site clean.
- Watch for signs of infection like pain, swelling, or excessive redness at the site. If at any point you think you may need to seek medical attention, please do!
SOURCING, SORTING & CLEANING qUILLS
There is a small market for North American porcupine quills on the internet, as they are also used in crafting. Sellers are commonly on Etsy or eBay. However, be aware that there is a wide range of quality you can get from other sellers. Some quills will be somewhat sorted and cleaned, others will not be sorted at all and come with a lot of unusable quills, fur, and other debris from the porcupine's environment. It is more likely than not that you will have to sort through the quills you buy for ones which are usable in play, a process which can be very time-consuming. The amount of usable quills in any given package that is sold could be less than 5%, and typically will be 10-25%.
Quills usable from play are:
- Strong - you can test this by pressing the quill gently between your fingers. If the quill bends, buckles, or breaks it should be discarded.
- Visibly sharp - many quills may come with their black tips partially broken or otherwise damaged, which will make such quills impossible or very difficult to insert.
- Significant length of black tip - if you can see little to no black on the tip of the quill that is supposed to be inserted, that quill will be unlikely to pierce or lodge in the skin.
In terms of quill length, you can determine what length you like best in terms of handling or visibility. Strong, sharp quills can be as short as 20mm (.75 inches), which can be difficult to handle but will be just as effective for causing sensation. Quills which are longer than 50mm (2 inches) are rare, with most quills averaging 35-45mm (1.4-1.8 inches).
Raw quills will be very dirty and thorough cleaning is recommended before playing with them. My cleaning process (which you may adapt as you see fit) is:
- Hand clean each quill as they are sorted, removing visible debris.
- Wash multiple times in warm water and soap. I use something designed for degreasing like Dawn and will continue washing and rinsing quills until the water they are in stays clear (typically 3-4 times).
- Dye quills, if desired (see below).
- Soak washed quills in 70% isopropyl alcohol for a minimum of one hour, then allow them to dry on paper towels or mesh rack.
- Store cleaned and sanitized quills in an airtight container until they are ready to be used.
If you want to dye your quills, be sure to use a fiber dye which is designed for protein fibers such as wool and follow package instructions. Adding a very small amount of acid such as white vinegar can help the quills take the dye (approximately 1/4 teaspoon per cup of water). Rinse quills thoroughly after dyeing, and be sure to sanitize in alcohol after the dyeing process.
And if you want to skip this whole process, buy some Needle Playground quills because I have done all this work for you!
PLAYING WITH QUILLS
Quills can be pushed straight into the skin like a thumbtack or pin going into a cushion, or inserted at an angle more flush with the skin. Create a pattern or go for pure randomness, up to you! Quills may go into the skin as much as several millimeters deep, but by design while not go much further. They are not designed to go all the way through the skin like needles, with both an entry and exit hole.
Quills have approximately 800 microscopic barbs which make removal much more difficult than insertion, and effectively keep the quill where it is during play, including the angle it is at. The more you play with or manipulate the quill, the looser its hold in the skin will get and the more likely it becomes the quill may come out. Each quill has a root at the end of the white body of the quill which some tops may find uncomfortable to work with, so you can snip the root off if needed.
Because no two quills are alike, it is likely that you will come across a quill or two that looks strong and sharp, but will fail to break the skin. This can be for a number of reasons, including skin thickness and tension. It can be more difficult to insert quills in areas of the body which are more elastic or "squishier," such as breasts, thighs and buttocks. It can help insertion to pull the skin taut or insert at more of an angle versus straight in.
Quills can be inserted anywhere, and you need to determine what you are comfortable with for your own risk profile. To minimize the potential for issues, I recommend avoiding inserting quills into mucous membranes (natural openings into the body, including eyes and the interior of the nose, mouth, and genital orifices.
You can bend, push, twist, press...use your imagination! I strongly recommend inserting and removing a small number of quills to get a sense of what you will experience before inserting more. Always remember what you insert has to come back out, and removal is when they are most painful!
Things you can do and how it may feel:
- Pull and tug - this could result in the quill coming out, but if a quill has a strong hold then slight pulls at it will just result in sharp/shooting pain which radiates from the point of insertion.
- Twist in place - this creates a more localized pain at the point of insertion, because twisting the quill engages all the barbs which tear at the skin.
- Bend or swirl - the more extreme the bend or movement of the quill is, the more sensation you will cause (a personal favorite is inserting a quill at an angle as flush to the skin as possible, and then bending it back the opposite direction).
- Impact (wrapped or unwrapped) - quills can be inserted and then hit with a variety of implements to add extra sensation to what you would already get from impact. It can help to wrap the quills with something (cling wrap or otherwise) so they stay in place and are not accidentally removed by the impact. This tends to create a longer achy and sore sensation where the quills were inserted.
- Manipulate singly or in groupings - the more quills you have in an area, and the tighter they are packed together, the more sensation you will get. It can be very intense to insert a large number of quills and manipulate them all at once - but remember to work your way up.
EXTRACTING & DISPOSING OF QUILLS
Quills can be extracted by simply pulling them back out, which might take a little or a lot of effort. The smooth surface of the quills can sometimes make it difficult to grip, so using hemostatic forceps or tweezers can help. Remember that extraction is when quills will be most painful, so please test the removal of a few before inserting more.
You can remove quills one at a time, or in groups. The more quills you extract at once the greater the force you will need to apply, and the more painful it is going to be for the bottom. It is possible to set up a quill zipper by lining up quills and applying duct tape to the ends. When pulling the zipper it is likely at least one quill will still not come out, because they can be very stubborn!
Quills should be discarded after one use for health and safety reasons, similar to needles. The barbs are too small for there to ever be an effective way of re-cleaning the quill. They are a natural biological material, and can be discarded in your regular trash if steps are taken to ensure they no longer pose a stabbing risk to anyone handling the trash. You can:
- Smash, break, or cut quills into very small, unsharp pieces
- Put quills inside a disposable container which can be sealed (i.e. used bottle or similar) before throwing away
- Burn or bury quills
Porcupine quills are not considered medical sharps for purposes of disposal. They should not be discarded in medical sharps containers, which should be kept clear of non-sharps waste. Quills are not suitable for composting.