Creating Unique Quillie Jewelry

Quillies seem to be popping up everywhere in the rug-hooking world. Fiber and rug hooking friends Nadine Cloutier, Darlene Murray, and Annette Shaffer have been making quillies into all kinds of jewelry—unique, lightweight, and easy-to-wear wardrobe accents. These three wooly friends show that quillies are amazingly versatile and offer unlimited jewelry design possibilities. Almost any motif you like can be redesigned in a quillie way. So Darlene, Nadine, and Annette encourage you to use your imagination, have some fun, and create your own unique wool jewelry!

Nadine’s Jewelry
Nadine began making her quillie jewelry several years ago with a simple, three-quillie bar pin. Quillies can be made using stitching or hot glue. Nadine prefers hand stitching her quillies. Stitching through the coiled wool prevents the quillie from coning outward (a very good thing) but can create little dimples where the thread exits then reenters the standing wool circle. Nadine very cleverly solved this problem by adding beads at these points. Varying the height of the quillies and stacking some of the beads adds more interest. The three quillies were made individually then stitched to a piece of felted wool. 

Nadine then began stringing her beaded quillies into bracelets. Using Coats Extra Strong 100% Nylon Upholstery thread, she alternated quillies made with assorted wools and textures with larger beads, creating lovely colorways. Her bracelets lengthened into necklaces, and she varied the sizes and numbers of beads and added felted balls (some of which she beaded) to the strand. Since the quillies will rotate on the thread, Nadine suggests you assure the quillies look attractive on both sides.

As she began using more glass beads, Nadine discovered the weight of the beads on the strand would, after time, cause areas of the thread to show. To remedy this, she began using silver crimp tube beads that would secure the beads in place on the strand. Nadine’s favorite closure is the silver lobster-clasp style, as it is the easiest to fasten.