Make+Take: Iron Gall Ink, Quill Carving, and Pamphlet Stitch

with Brittany Murray

February 21 @ 10:30 am - 12:30 pm

$45.00

Tickets

The numbers below include tickets for this event already in your cart. Clicking "Get Tickets" will allow you to edit any existing attendee information as well as change ticket quantities.
Make+Take: Iron Gall Ink, Quill Carving, and Pamphlet Stitch, February 2026 Registration
$ 45.00
0 available
Sold Out
Quantity: 0
Total: $ 0.00

Let’s Make+Take!

Saturday, February 21, 10:30am-12:30pm

View our current in-studio Health and Safety and Cancellation Policies >>

 

Members Save 10%! Sign-up or Renew to SavePayment Plans Available - Contact Us!

 

About this Workshop:

Learn how to make iron gall ink based on a historical recipe. Carve your own feather quill, and practice writing your letters with freshly made ink in a hand-bound five-hole pamphlet stitch journal.

Join us as we explore the history and chemistry behind iron gall ink, the standard in writing ink from the Middle Ages through the early 20th century. This ink was traditionally made using inexpensive and readily available materials, including iron salts and tannic acids from vegetable sources such as oak and other tree galls. 

Students will learn how to make iron gall ink using a historic recipe from 1571, carve a feather quill, and practice writing with your freshly made ink in a hand-bound five-hole pamphlet stitch journal.

Level: Beginner—no experience necessary

Registration closes February 14, 2026 and all materials are provided.

Sample image by Brittany Murray

CLASS MATERIALS LIST:

Registration includes all materials—just come ready to have fun! In addition, you may want to bring the following items for class:

  • (optional) Personal apron (we’ll have extras) and/or wear clothes that can get messy
  • (optional) Notebook and pen for taking additional notes if you like

YOUR INSTRUCTOR:

Brittany Murray is a burgeoning library and archive conservator living in Washington, DC. She is in her final year at the Winterthur/University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation and is currently interning at the Library of Congress. Brittany enjoys making historic book structures, researching the use of lead in historic bookmaking processes, and learning about different archival materials. When she is not at Pyramid Atlantic, Brittany can be found wandering around museums or watching horror movies.

 

 

“It was great! I learned so much – thank you!”

—Workshop participant

 

“Great instruction, prep of materials, helpful assistance and guidance, overall nice experience and learned some new skills.”

—Workshop participant