scissors

What are the best types of scissors i can get for light to medium weight fabric cutting? (if it will handle heavier weight too, all the better) I do need something with a comfortable handle. Any advice appreciated. Thanks!

Reply to
ml
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Scissors are like sewing machines. *you* need to pick the scissors. A lot of people really like Gingher shears...I *hate* them (I had a pair once, and gave them to my mum because they made my hand hurt...didn't bother her, though).

If you really want a good pair of cutting scissors, go to a sewing or quilting store and see what they have. The Fiskars prepacked that JoAnn's carries are fine for many sewists, (aamof, I have three pairs, two regular edge, and a razor edge for sheers). Mundial and Ginghers are generally considered better than Fiskars, but their handles are different.

Look at the shears with padded handles if you want something a little more comfortable than metal handles.

hth, jenn

-- Jenn Ridley snipped-for-privacy@chartermi.net

Reply to
Jenn Ridley

I have a couple pair of the Fiskars "soft touch" shears. They have a padded handle and they have a spring in the middle. What that means is you only have to squeeze the scissors to make the cut. The spring pops them back open after you make your cut. My hands use to really ache after I'd been cutting for a while. These have really helped with that. They are reasonably priced too. I think I paid about $12 US at Wal-Mart. I've seen them online too. I **think** at

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A pal of mine uses only Mundial scissors. She does upholstery for a living. She likes the heaviness of them and they will cut through darn near anything. You can find those at

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NAYY.

Jenn is correct. You will have to play around and see what you like. I've not had any trouble with Fiskars. I do mostly garment sewing. They go through everything I ask them to from silk to denim. But you might like something else entirely. The other thing to think about is how easy they are to sharpen. Fiskars also makes a couple different sharpeners. I have a little orange one. It does well for a quick fix.

HTH

Sharon

Reply to
Mike and Sharon Hays

Same here. I'll add that the size and strength of your hands also makes a difference. I have small hands, and they tire easily, so the Fiskars SofTouch is perfect for me, as are other models of Fiskars, but others prefer different brands.

In other words, like the choice of a sewing machine, the choice of a scissor/shear/rotary cutter is entirely subjective.

Karen Maslowski in Cincinnati

Reply to
SewStorm

Also, I like whatever pair I have that has the small serrations that help grip the fabric while cutting. You can barely feel the serrations with you fingernails but they really do grip the slick fabrics well.

Mack

Reply to
M. MacDonald

Thanks for the advice. I'll have to go "try on" some scissors. :-)

Reply to
ml

I also have little hands (there is spare room in the ends of the fingers of a pair of Marigold Small rubber gloves!), and I prefer Fiskars ordinary scissors! I also have a pair of hand forged steel dressmaker's sheers - in a tiny size! Great for heavy fabrics, but I like lighter scissors for light fabrics, and a rotary cutter for long straight cuts and quilting.

Reply to
Kate Dicey

Depends entirely on your hands and your hand strength. I have big hands, so most of the standard sewing scissors meant for household use are uncomfortable after awhile, but I do nicely with the big tailor shears meant for men's hands. Whatever you get, make sure

1) they are the longest blades you can possibly handle (the longer the blade, the less choppy the cut) 2) they cut clear to the tip.

For heavy fabrics (four layers of wool melton or similar), I use a pair of no-name shears that were meant to cut nylon tread material for tire manufacturing. I wouldn't be surprised to find they came originally from Wiss, but they're about 40 years old.

For a couple of layers of wool melton, down to a layer of silk chiffon, my current favorites are Kai -- Japanese scissors that are sharp, light weight, and cut to the tip. Not the easiest to find, but well worth it, imho.

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(I use N5250) For Polarfleece and for decoy scissors around the house, and for "junk scissors" in general, I use the dark blue handled Durasharp scissors that look sort of like Fiskars, but are about $5-6 in Walmart.

I also have my grandmother's Gingher dressmakers (too small in the handles), my mom's Wiss (ditto), Fiskar's soft-touch, which I use when my hands are stiff (but I really, really prefer the Kai), and a pair of 5" tailorpoints (Gingher) and a pair of applique scissors (Gingher also) -- special purpose scissors that don't get used often, but when I need 'em, I need 'em.

Although I've got a big cutting mat (36x60, I think), I find that I prefer to cut garments with shears, and leave the rotary cutting for quilt blocks, bindings, etc.

If you're left handed, be aware that most left-handed sewing scissors are just right handed scissor blades with left handed handles. Can be a problem if you're not used to compenating for them.

Kay Lancaster snipped-for-privacy@fern.com

Reply to
Kay Lancaster

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