How to Do Quill Work
Quilling is a form of paper art that has been around for hundreds of years. As early as the 1500s, monks were using it as a decoration for their manuscripts, often in imitation of scrolled ironwork. Originally, the strips of paper were coiled around the end of a quill pen. Today, there are tools to serve that purpose.
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Instructions
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Basic Round Coils
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Slip the end of a strip into the slot in your tool. Slowly turn the tool, using your index finger to ensure that the coil has an even tension.
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2
Glue the end of the strip to the coil to create a tight circle. Pull out the tool.
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3
Make a loose circle by pulling the tool out and letting the coil expand before gluing the end of the strip to the coil.
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4
Use a toothpick or other tool to brush glue across one side of the coil, and press gently to your paper. Allow the glue to dry. Make sure you use enough glue for a firm hold, but not so much as to make it soggy.
Changing Shapes
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Make an eye shape by pinching opposite sides of a circle to a point.
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6
Take your eye shape and pinch points on the two round sides to make a square.
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Make a teardrop/flower petal shape by pinching one side of a circle into a sharp point and pulling it slightly away from the center.
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Make a heart by taking a strip of paper and coiling from one end about 1/2 of the way up. Coil the other end in the opposite direction. Fold the paper in half at the center. Let the coils expand away from the center crease.
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Tips & Warnings
Quilling even coils takes practice. Don't be discouraged if it takes some work to get a nice-looking coil.
Resources
- Photo Credit Faith Alessio, Faith Alessio, Faith Alessio, Faith Alessio, Faith Alessio, Faith Alessio
