quilling

quilling

A dress with delicate quilling adorns the hem.

Definition

  1. Noun:

    • The art or craft of rolling and shaping narrow strips of paper into decorative designs: "quilling" is a technique where paper strips are curled, shaped, and glued together to create intricate patterns, often used in card making, jewelry, or wall art.
    • A specific type of decorative trim or fabric: "quilling" can also refer to a pleated or gathered fabric trim, resembling honeycomb, used in sewing or millinery.

  2. Verb (gerund/present participle form of "quill"):

    • The act of creating quilled designs: To engage in the process of rolling paper strips or fabric to form decorative shapes.
Usage Examples

  • Noun:

    • She learned quilling from an online tutorial and now makes beautiful greeting cards. (The craft of rolling paper strips.)
    • The dress was adorned with delicate quilling along the hem. (A decorative fabric trim.)

  • Verb:

    • He spends his weekends quilling intricate flowers for his art projects. (Engaging in the paper-rolling craft.)
Advanced Usage

  • "Paper quilling": the most common form, using thin paper strips.

    • Paper quilling originated in Renaissance Europe as a pastime for nuns. (Historical context of the craft.)

  • "Fabric quilling": a technique in sewing where fabric is pleated to create a honeycomb effect.

    • Fabric quilling adds texture to hats and collars. (Application in fashion.)
Variants and Related Words

  • Quill (n): a hollow, stiff feather shaft, historically used as a writing tool; also, a strip of paper or fabric used in quilling.

    • He used a bird quill to write the letter. (A feather writing instrument.)

  • Quilled (adj): decorated with or made by quilling.

    • The quilled frame looked elegant on the wall. (A frame decorated with paper quilling.)

  • Quillwork (n): decorative work using quills, often referring to Native American art using porcupine quills.

    • The museum displayed traditional quillwork on leather. (A different craft using animal quills.)
Synonyms
  • Paper filigree: a synonym for paper quilling, emphasizing delicate, lace-like designs.
  • Pleating: for fabric quilling, referring to the folded or gathered texture.
  • Rolling: a general term for the action of curling paper strips.
Related Idioms
  • (No common idioms directly involve "quilling," but the word is used in craft contexts.)
  • "To quill with care": a phrase used in craft instructions, meaning to roll paper strips precisely.
    • Quill with care to ensure the coils are tight and even. (A directive in quilling tutorials.)
Phrasal Verbs
  • Quill up: to prepare paper strips for quilling by rolling them into coils.
    • She quilled up all the strips before starting the design. (Preparing materials.)