My great great aunt made quillwork doll furniture from soup cans, including ornate dining tables and delicate upholstered chairs. Other than her work, though, I haven’t seen much quilling… until recently. Suddenly, quillwork is popping up everywhere! It’s on my social media feeds, coming up in my craft-friend circles, and peppered in among treasures at local shops. It seems like quilling is coming back in style and modern makers are creating some beautiful pieces.
Quilling is an ancient art that uses strips of paper or metal to create decorative designs. The strips are rolled, shaped, and bound together to form objects that can be used as decoration or stand on their own. You can use a range of materials, but thin strips of paper or metal are most common and give the classic 3D dimension to the coils and scrolls. I will admit I’ve never done it, but I’m ready to give it a try!
Whether you’re new to quilling like me or it’s a familiar practice, here are some modern resources to spark your creativity.
The art of modern quilling: Contemporary paper techniques & projects for captivating quilled designs by Erin Perkins Curet
This is one of those books that just takes your breath away. It starts with an introduction to quilling techniques and materials, then features incredibly intricate, colourful projects to inspire. There is a butterfly mobile, a candleholder, and even jewelry designs made from paper. The Mandala Wall Clock is particularly stunning and comes with pages of clear, simple instructions to walk you through the process.
The art of quilling paper jewelry: Techniques & projects for metallic earrings & pendants by Ann Martin
I still can’t quite believe the pendants and earrings in this book are all made from paper. The instructions show you how to make every curl of each perfectly coiled, delicate piece. The book also encourages you to start thinking about your own custom design, featuring a chapter on individual coils and scrolls that can be combined as you choose.
The art of paper craft by Helen Hiebert
While there is only one quilling project in this book, it is too beautiful not to share. The projects highlight just how much you can do with paper – cards, origami, marbling, bookmaking, even making your own decorative paper. This colourful book is packed with photos, instructions and templates to guide your art. See page 218 to make a simple quilled snowflake ornament.
3D quilling: How to make 20 decorative flowers, fruit, and more from curled paper strips by Vaishali Rastogi Sahni
The tiny, quilled strawberry in this book the cutest, most perfectly coiled thing I’ve ever seen and I love it. This book guides you through project after adorable project of little plants, insects, and animals. Do you start with the butterfly, the pineapple, or the owl? How about a tortoise with a beautifully intricate shell on page 114?
Want more creative fun? Check out our Info Guide on Hobbies and Crafts.
– Meg