About Paper Quilling

What is Paper Quilling?

Quilling is a paper craft, specifically the art of rolling thin strips of paper around a needle-like tool, then shaping those coils into intricate shapes and designs. The word quilling may have come from quillers using porcupine quills to wind the paper around. It has been known by many names including paper-rolling, paper-scrolling, filigree, paper mosaic.

A Brief History of Quilling

Quilling is thought to have begun in the sixteenth or seventeenth century, but may have been practiced long before. From the history and art that have been found, it is thought that the first quillers were nuns and monks. They used handmade paper or even cut off the edges of book pages and rolled the pieces of paper into ornate designs to embellish religious artifacts. Most quillwork now in museums date from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, but evidence seems to suggest that quilling has existed for 500 years

Quilling was most likely started to represent metal filigree, the art of shaping fine precious metal wires into open, intricate designs. Quilling became more popular as paper became less expensive and more widely available in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. As it became popular for decorative crafts, it was thought to be a suitable hobby for popular ladies and "ladies of leisure" in England. From there, the hobby was brought to the American Colonies and to New England. When the craft began to die out, a quilling kit was introduced in 1875 to help bring back the popularity of the craft.

Even though it still is not a widely known craft, it is still alive and well among paper craft enthusiasts. It is a simple craft to master, and a very highly enjoyable one! 

Paper Quilling Today

Paper quilling is often used today to decorate scrapbook pages, wedding invitations, greeting cards and craft boxes. It continues to grow in popularity because of the inexpensive cost of materials.