Last Updated on January 10, 2023

Looking for a pair of best fabric scissors? It might not be as easy as you think. Are you going to choose Singer, Gingher or Fiskers? And which type? Here is a detailed view on what to look for while buying a pair of scissors for your sewing or crafting project and a few product details to get you started.

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Introduction

Growing up, we have all watched our mothers and grandmothers sewing and knitting with a pair of big bulky shears lying around by their sides. But if you have taken up sewing professionally or just as a hobby you have probably realized that only one pair doesn’t really cut it. They really don’t and believe it or not there are separate scissors even for making the tiniest nips. But let’s not get into the details first and just start with the basics.

What are the basic sewing needs? Cutting fabrics, trimming threads, and making nips (getting to the complicated stuff like appliquéing and pinking later). You will need three different scissors for these needs, or a beginner at least two, forgetting the first two jobs done. For the first one you will be needing a pair of dressmakers shear and for the second and third one, a pair with a small and preferably curved blade.

The curved blade will help you cut the exact thread, small tips will help you get to the difficult areas. If you are a beginner, go for a dressmaker’s shear with a bent handle, it will give you control over your fabric by holding it on the tabletop.

For the more complicated works like appliquéing, embroidering, pinking, knitting, etc, you will need at least three different scissors. Since these are very delicate jobs, the scissors regarding them are quite small. For appliquéing duckbilled scissors work wonders. They will protect you from unwanted nips.

For embroidering, we will need the double curved ones, they will save you a lot of unhooping action. This pair will work for knitting too, or you could buy a pair of small, sharp scissors for trimming the years. Pinking shears will have a zigzag edge and will help you get rid of the frays. These are also very useful in crafting.

If you are thinking of quilting, get yourself a pair of heavy-duty scissors that can easily cut through multiple layers of fabric and the small scissors mentioned above will help you trim a few edges. That being said here are a few more things you should be aware of that are given below and followed by a few product details to help you through your sewing journey.

Best Fabric Scissors

 

The 10 Best Fabric Scissors

 

1. Singer 8-1/2-Inch Fabric Scissors with Comfort Grip

The singer has been a well-known name in the sewing industry for a long time. It’s only natural they will have one of the excellent fabric scissors on the market. If you are looking for a good pair of scissors at a reasonable price, this should be your choice.

Features and Benefits

  • Rubberized comfort grip; so less fatigue for your hands
  • 8-1/2 inch scissors from tip to the handle
  • Suitable for both left and right-handed individuals
  • Stainless steel blade prevents rust

Possible to use as

  • These pair of scissors can cut through light to medium weight fabric. So they are very handy for basic fabric cutting.
  • Can be used for crafting.

Pros

  • Very comfortable to use.
  • Cheap
  • Can be used by both a right and left-handed person.

Cons

  • These scissors are claimed to be not sharp enough for many customers.
  • Can’t cut through heavy-weight fabric like denim and fleece.
  • Not suitable for quilting

 

 

2. Gingher 6 Inch Knife Edge Applique Scissors

Gingher 6 inch knife Edge Appliqué Scissors are a pair of small, sharp duckbill-shaped scissors. If you are looking for ideal fabric scissors these might just be the one. If you know what you are doing these are very handy in appliquéing projects.

Features and Benefits

  • Paddle shaped blade provides safety and lifts the fabric while cutting
  • Chrome over nickel plating keeps it rust-free and durable.
  • Sharp and sturdy

Possible to use in

  • Appliquéing
  • Cleaning up rough edges without damaging the fabric underneath
  • Crafting
  • Quilting
  • Trimming
  • Making rugs

Pros

  • Cuts close the stitching giving you the perfect finish
  • Controllable; helps if you hold it a little higher than usual
  • Works great with medium to heavyweight fabric
  • The super sharp blade gives you fine detail
  • Works well with grade seam allowance

Cons

  • Takes a little time to get used to
  • Not particularly great with lightweight fabric
  • Small handles may cause fatigue
  • Quite bulky
  • Opening and closing might get difficult after a few heavyweight uses
  • Requires extra caution while using the scissors as they are very sharp

 

3. Mini Duck Bill Knife Edge Appliqué Scissors

These pair of scissors are quite useful in appliquéing. These are possibly some of the ideal scissors on the market. They are just the right size for precise and critical uses.

Features and Benefits

  • ½ inch wide duckbill gives you professional precision and ease of use
  • Very small (4.5 inches) which helps you reach the difficult areas with ease
  • Double plated blades provide rust-free durable scissors
  • The razor-sharp blade gives you fine details
  • Can be resharpened if required

Possible to use in

  • Embroidering projects
  • Machine appliquéing
  • Trimming thrums

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Lightweight
  • Works great with seam allowance

Cons

  • Separate scissors for right-handed and left-handed individuals. Make sure you are buying the right one before ordering

 

4. Gingher 8-Inch Knife Edge Dressmakers Hear

Gingher8-Inch Knife Edge dressmakers hear are a pair of long multi-purpose scissors that are basic needs of a professional seamstress or an amateur one. You can use it for cutting fabric or quilting, either way, these are some of the best fabric scissors out there.

Features and Benefits

  • Double plated blade with chrome-nickel finish gives you durability for a long time
  • Knife-edge blade helps you cut through multiple layers of fabric easily
  • Bent handles help to hold the fabric on a surface

Possible to use in

  • Quilting
  • Cutting ribbons and laces

Pros

  • Very sharp blades help cutting fabric effortlessly
  • Reasonable price
  • Works great with flannel, spandex, nylon, knits, etc.
  • Good for quilting

Cons

  • These scissors might be a little heavy
  • A bit rigid and tend to get the hang
  • Gets dull after a few heavyweight uses
  • Has a very small opening at the handle, which might cause some discomfort
  • Buyers can easily be cheated with cheap knock-offs

 

5. Gingher 8 Inch Spring Action Dressmaker Shears

These Ginghers are just a pair of ordinary dressmakers shears with locking and a spring action feature. These features added to safety matters and comfort, don’t really make them the best fabric scissors. So, if this seems too complicated for you, the regular ones work just fine.

Features and Benefits

  • Spring-action design gently opens the blade
  • Knife-edge blade provides a smooth action
  • The double plated blade gives durability
  • Bent handle design gives better control over the fabric

Possible to use in

  • Cutting patterns in fabric or paper
  • Trimming seams
  • Cutting long swaths of fabric

Pros

  • Cuts multiple layers of fabric with ease
  • Can be resharpened, a facility provided by the company
  • Has a good safety feature

Cons

  • Might be hard to close, the spring mechanism makes it easy to open after every cut but makes it harder to push down while cutting
  • The latching mechanism is quite tight and is very difficult to lock or unlock
  • The handles are quite hard

 

6. DMC 61253 Peacock Embroidery Scissor

DMC 61253 Peacock Embroidery Scissors are a pair of beautiful little scissors. Whether or not they are the excellent fabric scissors on the market, they definitely are a collectible piece. They are also quite small and a handy little tool for tiny snips.

Features and Benefits

  • Stainless steel blade provides smooth cutting
  • 1.5-inch small blade helps get to difficult places
  • Gold plated handle

Possible to use in

  • Embroidery
  • Stitchery
  • Cutting strings and yearns

Pros

  • Very sharp
  • Small enough to get close to the stitches and cut between threads
  • Easy to handle
  • Precise gives nice and clean cuts
  • Cheap
  • Easy to nip hard reach the area
  • Suitable for both the right and the left-handed people

Cons

  • Not sturdy enough
  • Doesn’t stay sharp long enough
  • Might cause some problems with individuals with big hands

 

7. Westcott 13865 4-Inch Sewing Titanium Bonded Curved Embroidery Scissors

When it comes to best, Westcott provides great quality products at a good price. As with most of the curved scissors, these pair of Westcott 13865 4-Inch Sewing Titanium Bonded Curved Embroidery Scissors help cut the exact thread while embroidering.

Features and Benefits

  • Titanium bonded stainless steel blades make them sharp and durable
  • Fine tips give precision
  • Sturdy
  • Soft grip handle

Possible to use in

  • Cutting off threads
  • Crafting
  • Sewing
  • Appliquéing
  • Trimming strays

Pros

  • The nicely curved blade gives accuracy
  • Easy to carry around

Cons

  • Handles are flimsy; doesn’t give much control or the firm grip
  • Only suitable for light-duty applications

 

8. Pinking Shears, P.LOTOR Professional Scissors 

P.LOTOR 9.3 Inches Handled Professional Stainless Steel Dressmaking Sewing Craft Scissors are a pair of pinking shears. these scissors come in different colors and are one of the best fabric scissors in the pinking sector.

Features and Benefits

  • Stainless steel blade,
  • Lightweight
  • Ergonomic design with soft grip handles

Possible to use in

  • Crafting
  • Cutting decorative edge in fabric
  • Decoupage

Pros

  • Cuts through different types of fabric with ease
  • Reasonable price
  • Heavy duty
  • Sturdy
  • Cuts about four layers of fabric effortlessly
  • Works great on heavy fabric like fleece and felt
  • Prevents fraying of fabric except for denim

Cons

  • Might be a bit tight
  • Heavy
  • Cuts are often sloppy
  • Although it says in the product description that these are suitable for both left and right-handed uses but they actually not quite suitable for a left-handed person.

 

9. Fiskars Fabric Scissors | Fiskars 9-1/2″ Softgrip Pinking Scissors

For the best fabric scissors, Fiskers is one of the go-to brands for many sewers. Fiskars fabric scissors |Fiskars 9-1/2″ Softgrip Pinking Scissors are just a pair of regular pinking shears with comfortable grip at a reasonable price.

Features and Benefits

  • Stainless steel blade for smooth cutting for a long time
  • Cushioned handle means no sore hands
  • Gives the clean patterned edge

Possible to use in

  • Crafting projects

Pros

  • Doesn’t allow seams to ravel
  • Usable for both hands

Cons

  • Might be a little stiff

 

10. Fiskars 8.5 Inch Softouch Spring Action Rag Quilter Snip

Quilting and knitting require a pair of scissors with a sharp blade with a fine tip. These pair of scissors claimed to be the best pair of fabric scissors for people with arthritis. With their spring action feature and comfortable handles, it might just be true.

Features and Benefits

  • Stainless steel blade gives precision
  • Titanium coating on the blades increases durability
  • Soft grip handle gives comfort and control
  • Spring action feature makes it easier to open handles
  • Short blades perfect for quick nips

Possible to use in

  • Making rag quilt
  • Notching paper patterns

Pros

  • Easy to cut fringes
  • Short blade helps with the accuracy
  • Sharp
  • Good for medium weight fabric

Cons

  • Not sturdy enough
  • Can not be used on anything other than fabric

 

Best Fabric Scissors Buyers Guide

Despite the things you have learned already, there are a few things that you still need to keep in mind before buying a pair of scissors.

• What is the purpose?
What do you need the scissors for? There are tons of scissors based on your needs. Do you need them for heavyweight fabric cutting or just crafting? Appliquéing or just for pinking? Better to be sure of your needs before buying. It will help you choose the right one.

• Length
The length of the scissors plays an important part in cutting. Whether to fit them in your sewing box or to cut the fabric with just one stroke, everything depends on the size of the scissors. Like, for instance, the dressmaker shears must have a good length whereas appliquéing scissors should have a small tip for making tiny nips.

• Sharpness
Fabric scissors must be sharp all the way to avoid chewing fabric and frays. Also, make sure that they can be sharpened if becomes dull.

• Comfortable or not?
The wide opening of the handle will provide an easier grip and less fatigue for your hand. If you are a beginner you must go for a padded handle otherwise you might end up with a sore hand.

• Right-handed or left-handed?
You can buy a right-handed or a left-handed pair depending on your needs. Or you can buy something that serves the purpose of both.

• Efficiency
You want a stainless steel blade at the least for effortless cutting. Also, check for durability and protection against rust.

 

Types of Fabric Scissors

There are four basic types of fabric scissors in the market with a wide range of variety in products.

• Dressmaker shears and scissors
These are the most common types of scissors. Every household has a pair of these. They are used for basic fabric cutting. These must have a good length and should be sharp all the way to be able to cut with a crisp and in one stroke. There are different brands of dressmaker shears available in the market, like, Gingher, Singer, Karen Kay, and so on.

• Embroidery scissors
For embroidery, you are going to need very precise scissors for clipping threads. Double curved scissors are the most suitable for embroidering. They help you go over your frame to cut threads without taking the hoop off every time.

• Appliqué scissors
Appliquéing basically means cutting and pasting a piece of fabric on another piece of clothing. It is often followed by embroidering. Appliquéing, like embroidering, requires precise scissors for clean-edged fabric. A duckbill shear is much useful in this process. It not only gives precision but also provides safety for the fabric.

• Pinking shears
Pinking shears are a pair of jagged-edged scissors. These provide you with a fray-less piece of clothing. These are also used for decorating purposes.

 

How to Use Scissors Safely

  • In kindergarten, you are probably warned a hundred times not to run around with scissors by your teacher. Safety with scissors started from there. Although scissors are an inseparable part of sewing and crafting, they are not playthings. If you have a child around, keep your scissors in the case that comes with it after every use.
  • Never drop your scissors. These are the main reason for the dullness of a pair of scissors.
  • Keep separate pairs for each use. Don’t use paper scissors for fabric or fabric scissors for paper cutting.
  • Don’t let the rust grow on your scissors. A cut with a rusty blade might send you to the hospital for a tetanus shot.
  • Don’t keep your scissors lying around with blades open. This not only makes your scissors dull but also is a safety issue for the household

 

Conclusion

Now that you have learned all that there is to know about fabric scissors, buying the right pair should not be an issue. But still, the comfort may vary from person to person and you might end up with a faulty piece. Like it or not, the best way to know the perfect pair is by buying and seeing which one suits you the most.

No pressures though, just buy a few basic pairs of scissors first and then see how it goes. Make sure you read through the description to know for a fact that the scissors meet your needs. Our discussion covered a few of the best fabric scissors on the market but if you need any further help you can always ask your friends and family or leave a question on the company’s website.

 

Jennifer Salvo

Hello, I’m Jennifer Salvo, mother of two children. I’m passionate about sewing, crafting, and giveaways. I want to help you learn more about sewing through my blog. I hope to inspire you with amazing craft ideas and help you with your sewing equipment purchases.

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