If you’ve never tried your hand at quilling before, you might be a little frightened by a completely new craft that appears to require a plethora of supplies! But don’t worry — while there are many great quilling equipment and accessories available, the fact is that you can get started with just a simple quilling tool, some paper strips, and a dab of glue! Check out our quilling supplies guide below, and if you’re looking for a great place to start, we’ve got a magical step-by-step project you’ll like!

WHAT IS QUILLING?

Quilling (also known as paper filigree) is a centuries-old art form. People used quills to coil the strips of paper before shaping them into complex patterns in the beginning. It is commonly assumed that this early practice is what gave rise to the term “quilling” as we know it today.

The origins of quilling, on the other hand, are disputed over the world. According to some historians, quilling initially appeared in Ancient Egypt, where some kinds of filigree art influenced more contemporary forms of quilling years later. Other versions claim that it originated during the Renaissance period, when monks and nuns decorated sacred artifacts with strips of paper snipped from the gilt margins of books — this was a less expensive alternative to employing gold filigree, and the results were just as beautiful.

5 QUILLING SUPPLIES

PAPER

We recommend that you use good-quality acid-free paper for cutting your own quilling strips for the best results in your creations. Paper with a low gsm curls differently than paper with a higher gsm. To get a tight curl on your paper, use paper weighing between 80gsm and 100gsm; for a looser curl, use paper weighing between 120gsm and 170gsm.

Quilling strips should be cut from colored paper sheets that are colored all the way through. Some colored sheets are not dyed all the way through, so when you cut them, you’ll find that they’re white in the center. When picking the paper to use, keep this in mind. More information on the weights and varieties of paper available may be found in our Paper & Card Guide.

SCISSORS

When it comes to cutting your quilling strips, you have a few options available to you. You could spend some time measuring and cutting your paper strips using a ruler and scissors; this method is simple, but it could take some time to do. If you decide to cut your paper strips in this way, we recommend using small craft scissors with a sharp point as they make clean, more precise cuts.

GUILLOTINES

You might also use a guillotine to cut your paper strips. A guillotine is significantly faster than hand cutting and allows for accurate cuts, so the paper strips may be cut to an exact width.

QUILLING DIES

If you have a die-cutting machine, a quilling die will make this operation easier and save you time. A die-cutting machine and die, similar to a guillotine, will allow you to cut your quilling strips to a precise width and assure a flawless finish.

In addition to straight-edge quilling dies, there is a fantastic assortment of floral quilling dies for creating 3D flowers. These dies are easy and quick to use. Simply cut the pattern onto your choice paperstock and coil the die cut into a flower. Simple!

QUILLING NEEDLE

A quilling needle works similarly to a slotted tool; however, instead of slotting the paper strip into the needle, you coil it around the needle while holding it in place with your finger. This is a somewhat more difficult method of quilling, but it results in neater coils.