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How were porcupine quills used to decorate Plains clothing?

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Plains style — Indigenous peoples of the Great Plains Dancers at the Totah Festival Powwow performing the Northern Tradition dance, a dance inspired by Plains traditions, on September 1, 2007, in Farmington, New Mexico.

Quillwork is a traditional form of embroidery practiced by Indigenous peoples of the Great Plains and other North American groups, involving the use of porcupine quills to decorate clothing and various personal items.12

To prepare the quills for use, they were first flattened and dyed using natural pigments derived from roots, plants, buds, and bark. The natural white color of the quills could be transformed into shades of red, yellow, green, blue, or black through these steeping processes.12

Once prepared, the quills were applied to the surface of animal hides or textile materials, such as shirts, leggings, moccasins, and robes. Patterns were typically stenciled or drawn onto the material using a bone paintbrush, stick, or knife before the quills were stitched into place in series of close lines. These designs ranged from geometric patterns to symbolic figures that expressed personal or tribal history, spiritual beliefs, and social status. While beadwork eventually became a common alternative, quillwork remains a distinct and historically significant art form.1234