About the studio
Small paper things, explained properly
Quillfold Studio makes step-by-step, diagram-led handbooks for making things with paper, starting with zines.
Margo Quillfold is a pen name
Margo Quillfold is the pen name under which the Quillfold Studio Handbooks are written and published. We use a pen name so the books and this site can speak in one consistent, friendly voice. There is no invented biography behind it: no made-up degrees, awards or years of experience. The work should stand on what is on the page.
What we make
The first book in the series is The Complete Zine Making Handbook: 25 projects, from a ten-minute one-sheet mini zine to a fair-ready edition of fifty copies. The free guides on this site cover the same ground in shorter form, and the reader bonuses give you the printable templates and planning sheets.
How the guides are made
- Diagrams first. Every fold, page map and stitch is drawn as a clear vector diagram in a consistent visual language.
- Worked out, not guessed. Page orders for 8, 12 and 16-page zines are derived fold by fold and checked against a simple formula. Template sizes are given in inches and millimetres.
- Plain facts. We avoid invented statistics and quotes. Prices are given as rough ranges because they vary by shop and country, and are labelled as such.
- Safety notes. Steps that use a craft knife or an awl carry adult-supervision notes.
Corrections and contact
A studio contact address is on its way and will be posted here. When a page is corrected, its “updated” date changes.