How to Learn the Lost Art of Quilling for Fun and Profit

The art of quilling goes back centuries, once the activity of ladies of liesure, it has once more found a mass appeal among modern crafters. Quilling involves coiling thin strips of paper around a needle or quilling tool. These tiny paper rolls shall be shaped and arranged to produce a filigree picture. They can be coiled tightly or loosely based on the sought after effect. Loose coils make larger shapes and the tight rolls create smaller more defined shapes.

How Do You Start Quilling?

To get started quilling you should have some thin strips of paper, about 1/8 inch wide, a quilling tool and some glue, one that dries clear.First, you need to learn how to create the shapes, the loose or open coil and the tight or closed coil.The tight coil is made by coiling a paper strip onto the quilling tool and gluing the end to keep it closed. The loose coil is created precisely the same manner but prior to gluing the tip you allow it to release itself to your desired shape.

What Can You Do With These Shapes?

Planning a quilling pattern is the most difficult part of quilling, that's the reason you can find a number patterns for sale. Besides learning the way to assemble these coils, you ought to be able to utilize your creativity to create the design you like. Remember, be patient, after a while your designs will come to be more difficult and involved as your skills and confidence grows. Both 2D and 3D art can be created with quilling so the possibilities are limitless.

What Can I Do With My Quilling Projects?

While quilling is a great hobby, it can also be a great craft business. You can produce Christmas and Holiday cards utilizing your quilling patterns and sell them on Etsy, eBay, or at local flea markets. You can also design great Christmas decorations in 2D and 3D patterns. You may also make pieces of art, such as 3D sculptures, that you can sell. But you don't need to sell everything you make, these projects make excellent home decorations and wonderful gifts.

As you can tell quilling can be both fun and profitable. As your skill increases and your patterns become more lovely, plenty of people will want to purchase your quilling masterpieces.
Photo credit: Inna Dorman