Free Quilling Instructions Coil Shapes

There have been many questions about making the basic quilling shapes that I have received lately, so I thought that I would revisit the basic coil shapes here. You can click here if you have questions about cutting your own paper strips.

You can click on the picture to see a larger image of the basic coil shapes. I will explain how to create the following shapes: Tight Coil/Tight Roll/Peg, Loose Coil, Teardrop/Raindrop, Marquise/Marquis/Eye Shape, and Heart. These were all made with 4 in (10.2 cm) strips in 1/8 in (.3 cm) wide paper.




Some helpful hints:

• Use a ruler to measure the length of your strip to get uniform lengths.
• It is generally recommended that you tear instead of cutting your paper. The reason for this is that the tearing creates a feathered edge that blends and is not as noticeable as a cut line.
• When making a shape that you pinch, try to pinch at the point where the piece is glued and/or try to align the glued portion to where you join two or more quilled elements.
• Always begin your quilling by first conditioning the paper. This is done by running your fingernail or needle tool or similar along the end of the strip. The paper will begin to curl as the fibers are broken down.
• White glue is best, before all of the choices with the growth of paper crafting, elmers glue was used and those quilled beauties are still glued together.

Tight Coil/Tight Roll/Peg Shape

• This shape is called by many names in different patterns, so I have listed the more common ones
• Place the quilling paper in the slot at the very top of your slotted tool or at the top of your needle tool or corsage pin
• Holding the loose end of the paper in one hand and your tool in the other hand, begin turning the your tool gently pulling the paper
• Keep an even tension, pulling the paper as tight as possible. You want the final shape to be very tight.
• Keep the edges of the wound paper as even as possible. This prevents creating a little pop-up in the center of your shape. Some people will call this a belly or a tornado.
• When you get to the end of your strip, pull the coil off the tool. If using the slotted tool, it is easier if you turn the slotted tool approximately 1/4 turn in the opposite direction before pulling the paper off.
• Carefully glue the end of the paper, using just a small amount (dab) of glue.

Loose Coil Shape

• Place the quilling paper in the slot at the very top of your slotted tool or at the top of your needle tool or corsage pin
• Holding the loose end of the paper in one hand and your tool in the other hand, begin turning the your tool gently pulling the paper
• Keep an even tension. For this shape do not pull as tightly, keep a looser tension so that the shape will open up when pulled off the tool
• Keep the edges of the wound paper as even as possible. This prevents creating a little pop-up in the center of your shape. Some people will call this a belly or a tornado.
• When you get to the end of your strip, pull the coil off the tool. If using the slotted tool, it is easier if you turn the slotted tool approximately 1/4 turn in the opposite direction before pulling the paper off.
• After pulling the paper off, let the coil open up
• Carefully glue the end of the paper, using just a small amount (dab) of glue.

Teardrop/Raindrop Shape

• Start with the Loose Coil and pinch the glued end, creating a point on one side and leaving a rounded end opposite the point
• When pinching use thumb and index finger

Marquise/Marquis/Eye Shape

• Start with the Loose Coil and pinch both the glued end and the opposite end of the coil
• Pinch one end then the other while holding the pinched ends one in each hand. This helps to create a more even shape.

Heart Shape

• Start with the Loose Coil and pinch the glued end creating a point
• While holding the pointed end in one hand, press the rounded end in with a fingernail.
• This creates and indentation creating the heart shape.

I hope you find this helpful and this will encourage you to try quilling.

Enjoy!
Copyright for personal use Antonella DeFalco

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