Quilling
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Quilling or Paper Filigree is an art form that involves the use of strips of paper that are rolled, shaped, and glued together to create decorative designs. During the Renaissance, French and Italian nuns and monks used quilling to decorate book covers and religious items. The paper most commonly used was strips of paper trimmed from the gilded edges of books. These gilded paper strips were then rolled to create the quilled shapes. Quilling often imitated the original ironwork of the day. The name quilling is said to be derived from the fact that the nuns and monks originally used feather quills as their tool to roll the paper.
The following information is quoted from: http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/pa_techniques/article/0,2025,DIY_14159_2270974,00.html
"The art of paper quilling dates back three or four centuries to a time when nuns used the gold edges trimmed from Bible pages to create simple but beautiful works of artistry. The scraps of paper were wrapped around goose quills to create coiled shapes -- hence the name "quilling."
The paper is wound around a quill to create the basic coil shape and then shaped to form flowers, leaves, and other ornamental patterns. Many of the pieces that have been preserved from this time are found adorning religious plaques and framed artwork. In the 18th century Quilling became popular in Europe where "ladies of leisure" practised the art. Quilling also spread to the Americas and there are a few examples from Colonial times.
Quilling is seeing a resurgence in popularity today. The craft has become increasingly popular due to the low cost of the basic material, paper, that is required to make the shapes. It is often used to decorate wedding invitations, birth announcements, greeting cards, scrapbook pages, boxes, and such.
The following included by permission from the Author: Antonella DeFalco, http://www.quilling.blogspot.com
Contents |
[edit] Tools and Supplies
The basic quilling shapes are made by taking strips of paper and rolling them into tight or loose coils. These coils are then formed into various shapes. The shapes are grouped together to make any design or pattern that you can imagine.
There are two types of tools that are used, the Slotted tool and the Needle tool. It is not necessary to use mechanical tools, many quillers use their fingers, for finger rolling, in addition to hat pins, straight pins, toothpicks, needles, dowels, or any thin, stick-like object that can be used to wind the paper.
The paper is typically cut into strips of varying widths. Common widths are 1/8" (.3 cm), 1/4" (.6 cm), 1/2" (1.3 cm), and 3/8" (1.6 cm). The 1/8" (.3 cm) width is most commonly used for quilling and referenced in many patterns. Papers today come in many colors and types. Although some people cut their own paper, there are a growing number of retailers that offer a variety of papers.
In general, a combination of tight winding, loosening, curling, creasing and gluing are used to form the designs.
Some of the additional tools that quillers use are:
- Glue - any white glue that dries clear can be used
- Wax paper or a clear sheet protector to protect the work surface
- Scissors
- Ruler
- Damp cloth or sponge to keep fingers from getting sticky
- Tweezers to pick up and arrange quilled shapes in the design
[edit] Basic Quilling Shapes and Instructions
The following instructions identify the name of the shape how to form the shape.
If using the Needle Tool, begin by holding one end of the paper close to the tip of the needle and begin rolling the paper around the needle.
If using the Slotted Tool, place the paper into the slot at the top of the tool and begin turning the tool. The paper will begin turning as the tool grabs the paper.
Keep the edges of the paper as even as possible, this prevents the finished coil from "bulging" in the center.
[edit] Coil Shapes
Tight coil
- Take the quilling paper and turn it around the tool, keeping the paper as tight as possible.
- Remove the coil from the tool, maintaining a tight tension.
- Glue the end of the strip to keep the coil from loosening.
Loose coil
- Take the quilling paper and turn it around the tool, keeping the paper as tight as possible.
- Remove the coil from the tool, and release the tension.
- Release the tension by placing the coil on the work surface and allowing it to open up.
- Glue the end of the strip when the coil is at the desired size.
Teardrop or raindrop shape
- Roll and glue the loose coil shape.
- Pinch the end where it was glued to make the teardrop shape.
- Tip: Pinch with thumb and index finger.
Marquis, marquise or eye shape
- Roll and glue the loose coil shape.
- Pinch the end where it was glued, making a teardrop shape.
- Take the teardrop shape and pinch the opposite end.
- Tip: Hold the coil with the thumb and index finger of both hands such that each of the pinched ends is in a different hand at the same time.
Heart shape
- Roll and glue the loose coil shape.
- Pinch the end where it was glued, making a teardrop shape.
- Take the teardrop shape, and while holding the pinched end in one hand, press in from the top (or rounded part of the teardrop) toward the pinched end.
- This creates an indentation at the top making it look like a heart.
[edit] Scroll and Spiral Shapes
Loose Scroll
- Roll a loose coil shape but do not glue the end.
S-Scroll
- This shape looks like an "S" when finished.
- Condition both ends of the strip in opposite directions.
- Both ends are curved in opposite directions.
- Roll one end of the paper, in toward the center.
- Roll the other end of the paper in the opposite direction, in toward the center.
- Each end is rolled toward the center, but in opposite directions, thus making the "S" shape.
C-Scroll
- This shape looks like a "C" when finished.
- Condition both ends of the strip.
- Both ends are curved in the same direction.
- Roll one end of the paper, in toward the center.
- Roll the other end of the paper in the same direction, in toward the center.
- Each end is rolled toward the center, in the same direction, thus making the "C" shape.
Heart Scroll
- This shape is also referred to as an Open Heart.
- First, take the strip of paper and fold it in half making a "V" shape.
- Roll one end of the paper, in toward the center of the folded "V".
- Roll the other end of the paper in the same direction, in toward the center of the "V".
- Roll until reaching the paper fold line and then start on the other end.
- Tip: For a more even heart shape, count the number of times the paper is rolled and roll the other end the same number of rotations.
Spiral shape
- Requires a needle tool, or similar long thin device such as a knitting needle.
- Tip: moisten the end of the strip before beginning.
- Take the paper and wrap it around the needle tool.
- Tip: Start at the tip of the tool and continue to wrap the paper around the tool, sliding the paper off the tip.
- Begin sliding the paper off of the tool so the spiral shape continues until the end of the strip is reached.
Once the individual shapes have been created, lay them on a board or piece of paper to arrange. Finally, glue the pieces in a mosaic-like fashion, making a picture out of several smaller shapes.
