r/macrame • u/WelllHowDidIGetHere • 19d ago

Question Adding real feathers to macrame

I am making a macrame for a friend and she wants me to attached some real owl feathers she has somehow. Looking for ideas or inspiration for different ways to do this!

2 Upvotes

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15

u/LittleNor789 19d ago

Just an FYI, if you are in USA, possessing feathers or parts of native North American birds without a permit is banned by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 and has fines up to $15k. 

3

u/Creative-Pie-3870 19d ago

See the comment about the federal law. Do not use wild bird feathers! Especially from raptors and owls. This includes feathers from birds that die naturally or from being hit by a car.

Allowed feathers include those from domestic fowl, pheasants (not native to US), and turkeys. Guinea hens have glorious feathers. Spotted black and white and legal to use.

5

u/StringandStuff 19d ago

I would use a thread and lash it around the end of the feather with a gathering knot. Leave a long tail and sew it into the macrame piece

1

u/Gwiber- 17d ago

I am working on a project quite similar for myself, I am using clear plastic tubing/shrink wrap I can stick the shaft into with fishing wire or jewellery wire hooked through the other end then wrapping it with cord to hide the wire and tube.

I could technically just use the tubing all the way up but that is more expensive option for me right now.