How to Make a Feather Boa

Choose the type of feathers. Almost any type can be used; however, feathers that are soft and fluffy work best. Common feathers used to make feather boas include ostrich feathers, turkey ruff, marabou, chandelle, coque, peacock and swan feathers. Turkey ruff, marabou, chandelle and coque are all types of turkey feathers. Usually turkey ruff, peacock feathers and swan feathers are used for outdoor feather boas due to their heavier weight.

Decide the ply of your boa. The ply refers to the layers of feathers in a feather boa. More than one ply makes your feather boa thicker, fluffier and heavier. The number of ply and the type of feathers contribute to the cost of your feather boa.

Buy the feathers. You can find feathers at your local craft store. Continental Feathers sells a variety of decorative feathers online. You can often get feathers from farmers, but you'll have to clean the feathers before you can use them.

Strip the feathers from their main stem. You want to sort the feathers according to size. Sew feathers that are close in size onto reinforced braiding. The number of strips you need depends on the ply.

Figure out how long you want the feather boa. The longest commercially produced feather boas are six feet long. A standard feather boa is two yards long. You need to buy a braided cord or braid your own in your desired length. This braid acts as the central braid for the feather boa.

Sew the strips of feathers onto the central braid. You need to completely cover the central braid from top to bottom. Make sure you cover each side of the central braid 360 degrees.