Quality Scissors Make All The Difference

July 2009

10 July 2009 - Joanne Williams

Anyone who sews frequently understands the importance of a good pair of shears. Hand fatigue can be a problem when your scissors aren’t ergonomically designed, or if the cutting action is rough and they are hard to use.

How do you find good, quality shears and scissors? First, you need to have the right tool for the job.

Always Use the Right Tool

We use the words scissors and shears interchangeably, but they are technically not the same. Shears have blades that are 6 inches or longer, and are typically designed for heavier, table-type cutting. Scissors are 3 to 6 inches in blade length, and are designed for hand-held cutting. Smaller, trimming scissors are less than 3 inches and should be part of your sewing tools. Using small blades to trim and snip threads is so much safer and less cumbersome than using larger scissors. It will cut down on errors too.

Quality Scissors

When choosing shears, make sure that the handles are bent, and that 3 fingers will fit in the large opening, and the weight is not too heavy, but not too light, for best ergonomic handling. The better quality shears and scissors are made of carbon steel, with the handles and blades forged in all one piece. They are usually nickel or chrome-plated to keep them from rust. Quality Dressmaking Shears will have an adjustable joint with a double locking nut. Tip: put a drop of oil in the pivot periodically to keep the cutting action smooth.

The less-expensive models will be made of stainless steel or titanium, with plastic handles and pivot screw. These moderately priced scissors aren’t quite as sturdy and don’t stay sharp quite as long, but they are still a good value for those who are casual sewers. Fiskars scissors often get great reviews for a moderately priced brand.

If you are investing in quality scissors, you’ll want to protect your investment. To avoid knicks in the blades, always close them when you put them down. It’s best to store them in a tin or box of some sort. Be sure to wipe the blades periodically to remove lint. Don’t use your fabric scissors for anything but fabric, as other uses will quickly dull the blades.

A Word About Comfort

If you do a lot of cutting, or if you experience pain due to arthritis, you’ll want to check out the Soft Grip line of shears and scissors. This set of scissors is designed with you in mind, and will really make a difference in hand pain and fatigue. The handles are cushioned for comfort and provide a not-skid surface, the tips are rounded for safety, and the metal pivot screw is adjustable, with a spring action. A locking mechanism on top of the scissors slides to open and lock the scissors blades. These well-designed scissors can be used by right- and left-handed people.

Investing the right tools for the job and caring for those tools will ensure years of good, safe, and ergonomic cutting.

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