Long handle, short handle, metal handle, rubber handle, fine tip, wide tip, needle tip, eek!

If you are looking at all the different paper quilling tools available and you want to know a little more about which one(s) to choose, read on!

First I want to share the tools that I have and use, and then I will share a couple others that I have not (yet) used.

Here is a photo of the actual tools I use for all of my quilling:

Some of these tools I have had for more than 10 years.  One of the tools is my very first and I have had for over 20 years!!  Others are more recent acquirements.  All are great and useful!

A) This is my very first quilling tool.  My parents bought it for me at a craft store when they went on a trip together.  It was my little gift when they returned and boy did I treasure it!  I had already been quilling for some time, up to a year maybe? and had only been using a toothpick as a tool until then.  It is a heavier metal, so it has a nice weight to it.  The grip part near the tip is handy. The tip of the tool is wider in diameter than any of the other tools, so your quilling shapes will have a bigger hole in the middle.  I actually prefer this for a lot of my quilling jewelry, so I still use this tool often for that. (find it here on Amazon)

B) This (along with the next tool) is the next quilling tool I bought, when I was in college over 10 years ago.  It is the most comfortable tool to use as it has a long handle with a soft grip.  If I am not needing that larger hole in the middle of my shapes, this is the tool I reach for!  Many brands sell a similar tool.  As far as I can tell, the quality is all quite similar, so choose based on the color you like, brand loyalty, etc. If you quill often, I definitely suggest a soft handled tool!

C) This is the other tool that I got at the same time as the long handle one.  It is a simple, but effective tool.  It is a lightweight aluminum handle. The short skinny handle makes it not as comfortable to use as others.  However, I still am loyal to this tool because I like to use the back end of it to make solid open circles, especially for my jewelry designs.  Click here to see a tutorial using this tool to make open circles. (find it here on Amazon)

D) Needle tool.  This came along in a set with the small aluminum tool.  It can be used for all sorts of things!  You can make long spirals with it. You can use it as your main quilling tool instead of a slotted tool.  It takes more practice, but it can be done and you get very small centers (without that flat bent piece in the middle).  I don’t use it as my main tool as I prefer the ease of a slotted tool.  However, I still always have this tool out!  It is also handy for applying glue to those tiny places and for holding in a horizontal position to pat down shapes so they are even.  It is also useful for holding down part of a design while doing some work on it.  You’ll find all sorts of uses for a needle tool! (find one here or here on Amazon)

E) For years I just used the basic slotted and needle quilling tools.  When I needed tweezers I used an old pair of regular grooming tweezers with the diagonal end.  I told myself I didn’t need to spend the money on special tweezers or scissors!  However, at some point in the past few years when I was ordering paper I ordered a pair of these tweezers on a whim.  And BOY did I kick myself for not ordering them sooner!!!  It makes ALL the difference to have a fine tip pair of tweezers!!  Holding shapes, placing shapes, etc. couldn’t be easier than with these.  Whether you prefer straight tip  or curved tip is up to you.  I personally prefer curved as I can hold the tweezers more horizontally which is a more natural position for me rather than up and down.  If you are quilling and don’t have a pair of fine tip tweezers handy, get one!!

F) These scissors I also bought as an add-on when I bought some more quilling paper.  They are very handy and I am also glad that I bought them.  Though I don’t use them nearly as often as any of my other tools, they are indispensable when I do use them.  The tiny tips can get in there and snip ends of paper without damaging your quilling design.  Priceless! (Find some here on Amazon)

G) Fine tip slotted tool (find it here on Amazon).  This tool is the latest in my collection.  It is not a tool I often reach for since I am happy with my others.  But it is comfortable with a long handle, and it makes a smaller hole in the middle of your quilled shapes.  The tip is actually like a needle that has been cut off.  My 6 year old daughter finds this tool fairly easy to use since she can easily slip the paper in.  However, if you choose to have your children use this, please use under supervision only, as well as with any of the other tools!!

If you are looking for any of these tools many are sold by different paper quilling and crafting stores.

So those are the tools that I have!  Here are a couple more that I haven’t personally used yet:

1) Ultimate quilling tool.  This tool is from Paplin, and it is quite unique!  The tip is actually like a hollow tube with a slit down one side.  So the paper goes into the tube, but not through to the other side.  This is supposed to reduce the little tag in the middle of the quilling shapes.  It comes with a bead to slip over the tip to help make roses.  I haven’t tried it yet, but it looks as though it keeps the base of the rose at the right level.  It also comes with a little disc you can slip onto the tip to make large solid discs more easily.  I do plan on trying this tool and giving a personal review in the future.  But if you are looking for a new tool to try, this could be it!

2) Double sided quilling tool with comfort grip.  I used to sell this tool in my online shop, but never used it myself.  It feels like it’d be very comfortable with the soft purple grip!  I don’t know if the side you aren’t using would get in your way since I haven’t tried it yet.  The needle side is short, so I don’t think it’d be too cumbersome.  It’d make a great travel tool since you’d only have to bring one instead of two.  It’d also make a great gift or a great first tool since you get two for the price of one!

Those are all of the basic quilling tools.  Of course there are the other tools that make quilling easier and more fun such as circle sizing templates, curling coaches, quilling combs, etc.  But I’ll save those for another post!  Hopefully this helped you out if you are looking at different tools and wondering which one to get.

Which is your favorite quilling tool?

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*All supplies in this post I purchased on my own.

*This post contains some affiliate links.  If you make a purchase through the affiliate link I get a small percentage.  I only link to products that I use and love.  Thank you for supporting my blog!