Quilling newbie

Hi everyone, I started quilling recently and just found this sub, loving all your amazing pieces! I wondered if anyone could advise - I'm finding making the outlines of my designs really difficult. I tried it by initially making the outline, then filling it with quilling shapes and swirls, and then I tried another without an outline, made the overall shape just using swirls etc and then went around the outside edge, making an outline. The latter seems more fragile.

Sorry if I'm not using the correct terms, but very much just starting out with this particular craft (and loving it so far!). Which of the 2 methods above is preferable or is there another way I should be creating the outlines of my design?

Thanks for any guidance!!