ALSO...

If the stem of the plume is to thick to wrap toy can, if you are careful, cut the feather in half lengthwise.
Also if you have problems with the feather twisting on you as you wrap it you can "fold" the feather.
To do that attatch the feather by the tip as normal then but the butt end in your hackle pliers. Then with the blade of your scissors stroke the top fibers of the hackle at the stem of the feather. This will fols the hackle so that the fibers from both sides of the hackle form a "V" 60 degrees apart as opposed to being 180 degrees apart..

Also any haclkles with brittle stems like marabou should be held in place by a ribbing of oval tinsel. This will make the fly last much longer...

hope at least some of that makes sence...