Not knowing what pattern you are using (or if you are designing your own), here are some general tips that I hope will help:

1. Use smaller coils to form your design since the centers of larger coils tend to fall out more easily (i.e. use 3″ strips to make coils instead of 8″ strips).

2. Use a sturdier paper when making your coils. You’ll see the difference in paper weights the more you quill. I like the papers from Quilled Creations for making ornaments.

3. Use a longer strip of paper to make your coils, but don’t let it open up all the way. This will form a coil that is more dense than normal and a bit sturdier.

4. If your design does call for a larger coil, quill an eccentric version of the coil. Since the coil edges are glued together, there is no center to pop out.

I hope this info helps.

I am new to quilling and I have a question. If I was making something that wasn’t going to be glued to some type of background, like a Christmas Ornaments, how do you keep the centers of your shapes from accidentally popping out. I have made the beginning of a simple snowflake, and when I picked it up, the middle of one of the coils popped out. I was able to push it back, but I wondered if there was a way to stop this from happening.

Thanks!

Jen

Thank you for being here, and I can hardly wait to read my new book.