Scissors, snips, and shears are the foundational tools of the sewing room. Most of us have several pair of each and can never find them when we need them! We’ll look at each of these with recommendations of what to look for when investing in these tools.
The FIRST RULE for cutting equipment in the sewing room is USE FOR FABRIC ONLY! Many a pair of scissors and shears have been ruined for fabric use by cutting cardboard for a school project or duct tape for a household fix. In my home, everyone knows that my cutting tools are off-limits to anyone but me!
Sewing scissors or bent-handled shears are used for cutting fabrics and come in various sizes of blade length. Dressmaker shears, used for cutting out garments, can be purchased with blade lengths of 7, 8, or 9 inches. Also, the shears may be “bent” or “angled” to allow the blades to lie against the cutting surface for a smoother cut. The better shears will be pricey, but if given proper care, will be the only pair that you need. Look for shears with tempered or stainless steel blades with uniform width and angle of the cutting blades. Check to see if the shears have an adjustable screw on the blades that can be adjusted if the blades get out of alignment (note: some shears have a non-adjusting rivet designed to look like a screw and cannot be adjusted).
Appliqué scissors are designed for close trimming while protecting the underlying fabric. Most will have a “duckbill” blade that helps separate the layers for trimming and protects the backing layer from getting clipped. The curved handles make it easy to trim the appliqué.
Thread snips are spring-action cutters (with or without a finger loop) that have short blades for clipping thread tails and seam allowances quickly. You may want to keep several pair of these around! Generally, these cannot be sharpened so keep them for thread snipping only!
Pinking shears have serrated or “sawtooth” blades. Use these to trim your seam allowances in garments to reduce raveling. They can also provide a decorative finish as well. Pinking shears work best with woven fabrics. Pinking shears can be sharpened but it can be hard to find someone with this skill.
Embroidery scissors have thin blades, 3-1/2”-5” long, which are good for clipping, notching, and snipping thread tails. These are often used by those doing handwork such as counted cross-stitch, crewelwork, and English paper piecing. Some of these scissors have elaborate metalwork designs on them – a popular one is the “stork handle.”
Machine embroidery scissors feature uniquely shaped handles that allow for accurate thread trimming on machine embroidery while the hoop is attached to the machine.
Left-handed scissors are a must for the lefties out there! Most of the better-quality scissors and shears will have a left-handed version available. The blades and handle openings are angled differently for the left-handed cut. If you cannot find left-handed scissors or shears, then look for one labeled ambidextrous which can be used comfortably by either hand.
As with any tool, taking care of them is important. The following guidelines will keep your tools in tip-top shape:
•Wipe scissors after use with a clean dry cloth. Lint produced from cutting polyester and other synthetic fabrics can dull the blades.
•Keep your blades sharp. Some shears come with a storage sheath with a built-in sharpener or you can use a sharpening stone with forged steel scissors. Having your scissors sharpened by a professional sharpening service is also worthwhile.
•Don’t force a cut; this can distort the blades.
•Store your scissors in a box or pouch.
•Use the scissors for their intended purpose, which is cutting fabric and threads.
A busy sewing room can never have too many snips and scissors around. Purchase the best quality you can afford, treat them well, and they should last you a lifetime!
-submitted by The Sewing & Vacuum Center
