Last Updated on January 10, 2023
Pinking shears are a handy tool but do you know what the best pinking shears are? In this guide we will show you as well as how to maintain them and give them a long lasting life.
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Pinking shears are powerful allies to tailors and hobbyist sewists. Pinking is one of the most ancient forms of finishing a seam, dating back to the 18th century.
These serrated scissors use the logistics of the woven fabric grains to cut them in a way that stops fraying. If they are well constructed, they really do keep the fabric from shredding in the ends for a long time.
Sharp and sturdy, the best pinking shears are the perfect companion to good dressmaker scissors.
Consider ones that have long blades, spacious finger holes, sharp serrated edges, and a good grip. Pinking shears can also be used to add decorative borders to the fabric, a nice touch to several projects.
The best tools make sewing a lot more fun, and less of a toll on your body. Repetitive strain injuries are not uncommon among sewists, but sharp and precise tools lessen the chances of that.
With all this information in mind, we researched and compiled this comprehensive list of the ten best pinking tools to get today.

9 Best Pinking Shears
Image | Title | Buy |
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![]() | Kai 8” Pinking Shears - N5350 Ergonomic Pinkers Sewing Scissors | Check Price! |
![]() | Sewing Pinking Shears for Fabric Paper Professional Craft Scissors with Sharp Stainless Steel Blades, P.LOTOR Lightweight Serrated Scissors with Comfortable Handle 9.3 Inch | Check Price! |
![]() | Fiskars 12-94458697WJ Pinking Shears, 8 Inch, Orange | Check Price! |
![]() | Gingher Inc | Check Price! |
![]() | KimDaro Pinking Shears Set, 9.2 Inches Handled Professional Stainless Steel Dressmaking Sewing Craft Scissors Zig Zag Scissors (Scalloped, 5mm) | Check Price! |
![]() | Hui Tong Strong & Sharpe Pinking Shears for Fabric,Serrated and Scalloped Pinking sheers,3/5/7mm (Scalloped 7mm) | Check Price! |
![]() | JISTL Professional Stainless Steel Dressmaking Sewing Craft Scissors, 9.3 inches Handled Pinking Shears (Orange) | Check Price! |
![]() | Allary 9-Inch Ultra Sharp Pinking Shears | Check Price! |
![]() | Pinking Shears, Stainless Steel Pinking Shears Comfort Grip Handled Professional Fabric Crafts Dressmaking Zig Zag Cut Scissors Sewing Scissors (9", Serrated, Purple) | Check Price! |
1. Kai Pinking Scissors
- Kai 8 Pinking Shears (Pinkers). The 5350 model features an offset thumb blade rubber finger inserts for maxiumum comfort. These pinking shears are manufactured with fine stainless steel with Vanadium
- The teeth are sharp and will stay that way much longer than comparable professional scissors
- The KAI N5000 Series shears are designed for people who use scissors and shears professionally throughout the work day
- They are extremely comfortable and cut effortlessly through difficult fabrics, hard to cut materials, upholstery, and more
- 8” Overall Length / 3” Cutting Length / Great for Thick Fabrics / Ergonomically Designed / Razor Sharp, Lasting Edges
The blades of the Kai pinking scissors are made with stainless steel added with Vanadium. This is an element that, when added to steel, greatly improves its strength properties.
That makes it excellent for thick pieces of fabric and tougher material. They also stay sharper for much longer than cheaper versions and have an ergonomic shape that improves comfort. Jersey knit, denim, light cotton, nothing is an obstacle for these scissors!
They are 8 inches long and have rubber finger holes, giving them a great grip. They are designed for professional use, but even someone who sews as a hobby will enjoy their benefits.
2. P.LOTOR Pinking Shears
- 9.3 Inches Pinking Scissors with Durable Stainless Steal Blades.
- Ergonomical Designed Soft Grip Handles.
- Ball Bearing Joint For Precision and Smooth Cutting Action.
- Apply for Fabrics, Linings, Paper, and Craft Uses. Ideal Craft Shears for Professional and Domestic Use.
- Premium Quality That Will Last For Yea
Ranking high on the lists of sewers favorites, the P.Lotor shears are a safe bet. Their handles are soft and comfortable to use, with very large finger holes.
The stainless steel blades are rust-resistant, sharp and durable. The manufacturer recommends oiling the blades before the first time using them, and they will provide a smooth cut if you do so.
They are bigger than most – 9. inches long and quite heavy to use. Even though they are not expensive, they are well made and reliable.
The brand attests they are suited for left and right-handed people, but some left-handed customers did not feel this was accurate.
These are one of the shears with the longest blades available, and the scallops go from the very beginning to the end of the blades. It makes them ideal to cut long stretches of fabric seamlessly.
3. Fiskars Shears
- Ideal for cutting a zigzag pattern along a fabric edge to limit the length of frayed threads, preventing unraveling and keeping projects crisp and clean
- Extended lower blade helps lift fabric for precise cuts
- High-grade, precision-ground, stainless-steel blades offer a lasting sharp edge that cuts all the way to the tip
- Length: 8 inch
- Lifetime warra
It is impossible to go wrong with a pair of Fiskar scissors. The brand is pretty well-established in the craft niche, and there is a reason why.
It consistently makes reliable products available while keeping the price accessible. It is 8 inches long, made with stainless steel blades and rubber handles.
One thing that makes it stand out from the crowd is that the lower blade is slightly longer than the superior one. That helps you to lift the fabric, making the cutting process smooth and easy.
They may seem stiff at first, but give them a few uses and you’ll see how slick they get. They cut like butter even through layered pieces of fabric, without the dreaded chewing effect.
4. Gingher Pinking Shears
- Sawtooth blades help prevent fraying
- Great for adding a decorative edge to projects
- A double-plated chrome-over-nickel blade finish
- Sawtooth blades help prevent fraying
- Great for adding a decorative edge to projects
- Double-plated chrome-over-nickel blade finish
- Length: 7.5 inc
Gingher is up there with Fiskars when it comes to sewing scissors. Unlike other models, these ones are completely made of steel, with no rubber handles.
That may make them a little harder to use, but if you care about brand quality then it’s worth the extra effort. Gingher has been on the market since 1947, and their scissors are all crafted by expert artisans.
These pinking shears are 7.5 inches long and have a bent handle that is optimal to hold material flat while cutting. A double-coated finish helps with longevity and the customer service is top-notch.
5. KimDaro Pinking Shears
- 【ERGONOMIC】- Our dressmaking pinking shears with ergonomic and soft grip handles for easy controlled cutting, very suitable for adults and kids use! Cutting corners in cloth and round designs has never been so simple.
- 【SIZE】- 9.2 / 23.5cm pinking shears is sharp and feature stainless steel, razor sharp blades which makes it great for any project or design.
- 【SHARP】- The elongated blade allows you to lift the material for a more precise cut and get the perfect zigzag shape. The shearing scissors are sharp to the end.
- 【GREAT DESIGN】- The 5mm * 2mm serrated blades with the perfect zigzag shape means that are perfect for quilting, tailoring and edging.
- 【MULTIPURPOSE】- Cut paper, fabric, leather, cotton, flannel, denim, handicrafts. It is very simple. Scissors for fabric and sewing. For professional and domestic use.It offers a durable cutting edge that cuts to the e
If you need shears that are a specific size, KimDaro offers plenty of choices to pick from. You can get scissors that have scallops ranging from 3, 4, 7, 10, and 18 millimeters, great for particular projects.
The handles are soft and give you a great grip, which is important to control your cutting – especially around corners and round designs. They have a slightly different design some customers love – the indents on the blades are round semi-circles instead of vs.
This makes no difference when it comes to stopping raveling but can be a plus in regards to design.
6. Hui Tong Shears
- Some tailors may encounter such troubles:Pinking shears cant cut flexible fabrics.But we can do it,And from the first sawtooth to the last sawtooth is sharp.The trimming is not worn,Also suitable for cutting: denim, leather.
- Please do not cut more than three layers of fabric frequently.This will reduce the life of the scissors.After use, please store with scissors oil.
- Our products undergo strict inspection before leaving the factory, Repeat the test,To ensure sharpness. We promise: if it is a product quality problem,Just contact Hui Tong brand after-salesLICHENG,We will refund in full,And there is no need to return And there is no need to return produc
The Hui Tong scallops are rounded instead of v-shaped like most. They also offer a variety of scallop sizes, from 3 to 7 millimeters.
That means you can choose how your project is going to look like, with bigger semi-circle indents or very small ones.
That makes them more suited to decorative purposes, instead of seaming ones. They get you a wave pattern on the fabric, something hard to do without using a cutting blade.
It is important to notice that they are not effective in keeping the edges from fraying, but if you want an affordable pair to use on craft projects these are the best pinking shears to get.
7. JISTL Pinking Scissors
- Fabric Pinking Shears Triangular Lace Tailor Scissors
- Apply for Fabrics, Linings, Paper, and Craft Uses.
- Please do not cut more than 4 layers of fabric frequently
- This is special . different from ordinary scissors. The slightly tighter scissors are more durable. new scissors require a running-in process. sharp
- Joint For Precision and Smooth Cutting Action. Anatomically Designed Soft Handl
The JISLTL scissors are big, reliable, and sharp. You can use them to cut through four layers of fabric at once, and several users say they work great on thicker fabric.
Although this is not a top brand, they are still a solid purchase, even if they don’t last as long as a Gingher or Fiskars does.
The tension on them is tight, which means they provide a precise and controlled cut -lose scissors can’t get their blades properly aligned for a proper cut.
The finger holes are very large and covered with rubber, ensuring a good grasp throughout use.
8. Allary Ultra-sharp Shears
- Great for putting finished edges on fabrics seams and various craft projects with a zigzag design which helps prevent unraveling
- Includes 9-inch stainless steel scissors
- Contour lightweight black handles for comfort
- Premium quality for cutting light to heavy weight fabr
Although they look like regular fabric scissors at a first glance, the Allary shears are far from that. The steel blades have a zigzag pattern that works great to stop fraying.
If you are not a professional it can be hard to justify spending big bucks on scissors, and this pair will do the job just fine while being very affordable.
They are bigger than most, and if you have small hands you may find it hard to fully open. Still, their sharpness and ability to cut through different types of fabric make up for that.
9. Small Pinking Shears
- Material: stainless steel blade, PP handle
- Suitable for Fabrics, Linings, Paper, and craft uses
- Comfort Grips with Green and white handle
- Blades Dimension: 5.5, Tooth spacing: 5mm, Tooth depth: 2.5 mm
- Size: about 9.5 X
Large scissors are not easy to use for those with small hands. Their big blades mean you have to open the handles widely to reach their full range.
That is why we found these shears that are convenient for small hands. They are tighter and have smaller finger holes, with a soft but firm grip. Although they are made for small hands, they still have long blades – essential for working with fabric.
As a plus, they are quite inexpensive, but can still cut through three layers of fabric with no issue. They can be used on fabric or paper, but remember to choose just one type of material and stick with it.
Buying Guide – How to Choose the Best Pinking Shears for You
Size
Size, and especially the length of the blades, matter. The longer they are the fewer cuts you need to make on the piece of fabric. That means less effort and strain.
Unless you need the scissors for a specific small project, for example, doll’s clothes, you should look for the longest shears you can find.
Weight
It may seem counterintuitive that we recommend heavy pinking scissors instead of lightweight ones. The trick, however, is to find the balance between quality and weight.
Pinking shears have to be sturdy, they do a strenuous job that requires bulk. Cheap models are light and flimsy and chew the fabric more than cut. The ideal ones provide a clean-cut and you can feel their quality when you hold them.
Sharpness
It is even harder for pinking shears to be sharp than regular scissors. Since they have so many indents, all of them need to hold their shape and be razor-sharp. Consider this your number one priority when purchasing this type of sewing tool.
Your needs
Although pinking shears are commonly used to seam fabric designs, they can also be used for a variety of crafts. They can also add a decorative ending to papercrafts and fabric projects.
If that is your purpose, it is ok to get a lighter shear that will get the job done. If you will use it on leather or denim, however, investing in a top brand may be a necessity.
Comfort
It is important to keep your expectations in check in regard to this useful tool. Using them will never be as smooth and easy to use as regular fabric scissors.
Even the best pinking shears require a good level of strength and effort since it is hard to make the serrated edges go through the piece of fabric.
With that in mind, it is still possible to make this a comfortable experience with the right product. Long blades, soft handles, and big finger holes are a great help with that.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do pinking shears really work?
The way pinking shears work is that they cut woven fabrics along with the bias – the sweet spot diagonally located between the lengthwise and crosswise grains.
Cutting against the grain of the fabric like that is key to stop the fabric from fraying to no end. This is a quick method that will reduce about 80% of shredding, but it can’t beat completely sewing the hem.
How do you use pinking shears?
Only woven materials will respond well to pinking shears. Sew your hem beforehand, and use the pinking shears to cut through the edges you wish to stop fraying.
Cut along the edge of the seam, as far as you can from it. This will help to keep fraying to a minimum. They work almost like regular scissors but with more weight to them.
How do you take care of pinking shears?
The number one care advice is to always keep your fabric and paper scissors separately. Using your shears on paper and then on fabric will dull them.
Always dust them after use, as the lint from fabric damages them in the long run. Use a sharpening tool or sandpaper to sharpen them every six months or so, or as needed.
While you can use aluminum to successfully sharpen straight scissors, this will not work on serrated ones.