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The 11 Best Scissors for Different Types of Sewing and Fabric

The 11 different types of sewing scissors you need
Recommendations from a professional costume designer and seamstress with over 15 years of experience.

Sewing scissors cutting orange thread next to a measuring tape

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There are many different types of specialty scissors used in sewing and crafting, and each one has its own unique set of uses. In this blog post, I will discuss the different types of sewing and crafting scissors and their specific applications. I will also provide a recommendation to choose the right pair of scissors for your needs.  So, whether you’re a professional craftsperson, sew professionally, or are just looking for a new pair of scissors for your studio or sewing kit, read on for all you need to know about the different types of scissors!

I have been a seamstress and costume designer for theatre and dance for almost 20 years.  I have also been a wardrobe stylist and seamstress for film, e-commerce photo shoots, and commercials.  Now I teach sewing to University Students at a University costume shop.  Throughout my career I have worked in or visited many costume shops, home studios, and wardrobe rooms and a good pair of scissors is one of the most important tools you need for sewing and crafting.  Good quality, sharp scissors can make a project better, and the wrong scissors can really ruin a garment and waste your time.  As with any project or job, you are only as good as your tools, and having the right tools can make your final results SO MUCH BETTER!  This is a professional costumer’s collective recommended list of the best sewing scissors you need so that you can have the right tool for whatever kinds of projects you want to take on.  

All of my recommendations for different types of sewing scissors have a comfortable grip and are items that I actually like and use for my work.  They have been tested on the job and approved!

A quick reminder from a costume shop manager:  Only use fabric scissors for fabric!  If you cut paper or plastic with them they will get nicks and start to dull.  Use your craft or paper scissors for everything else.  Keep your fabric scissors for their own special use.

11 Types of Scissors For Sewing and Crafting

1. Classic Sewing Shears

The first recommendation is for classic sewing shears.  These are classics for a reason.  When sewing you will use these scissors more than any other.  They are a consistent go-to for cutting fabric.  In the places I have worked, I’ve tried other kinds/brands and I’ve never found another pair I like more.  If you are working on a sewing project, this is the first type of scissors you need.  The stainless steel blades can be resharpened either by a repair person or you can even send them back to the company.  These 8″ sheers cut thick fabrics or multiple layers of fabric easily, and are equally sharp all the way to the tip.  This is very important for straight lines when cutting.  The longer cut length makes them the ideal craft scissors for cutting patterns, trimming seams, or cutting long lengths of fabric.  A bent handle helps to hold the fabric flat on your work surface for easy, accurate, and comfortable cutting.  If you decide to get nothing else on this list, get these shears, they are simply the best!

I recommend: 

Gingher 8″ Sewing Shears

2. Sewing Snips or Thread snips

Sewing snips are small scissors that are used for snipping thread at the end of seams or to cut your thread for hand sewing.  A good pair of snips should make a nice, small clean cut at the end of your thread.  This is important because you will want the end of the thread not to fray when you try to thread your sewing machine needle or your hand-sewing needle.  Frayed thread is nearly impossible to get through the eye of a needle.  You may also need them to make precise cuts on fabric if you need to snip the seam allowance on a curved seam.  The tips should be sharp and reliable.  

My favorite pair are :

Tula Pink Thread Snips

or these are fantastic too:

Gingher Spring-action Knife-edge Thread Snips 4.5″

Yes, it’s Gingher again, they really make some great scissors!

3. Embroidery Snips

Embroidery snips, also known as embroidery scissors are of course a more specialized type of scissors, but they can also be used as snips and work perfectly for opening up button holes.   It’s important to find snips with precision edges to make clean cuts for the most intricate embroidery applications.  

I would recommend:

Gingher Epaulette Embroidery Scissors

Yes, I love Gingher!  Their products are amazing!

4. Pinking Shears

Pinking sheers are fabric scissors that have a serrated edge and are used for finishing woven fabric edges to keep them from fraying.  This is important on the inside of seams or zippers.  When cutting fabric with pinking shears, the edge of the fabric will be cut into a small zig-zag instead of a straight edge.  This zig-zag is what prevents the fabric from being able to unravel and fray.  Plus it looks pretty!  This is the perfect way to finish the inside of a garment for the average home seamstress or seamester.  Most costume shops or professionals will use a machine called a serger or an overlock machine to accomplish this task because it is faster and a bit more durable, but these machines come with a large price tag.  Pinking shears are an affordable, easy way to finish a garment and they work really well!  

I recommend using:

Kai 8’’ Pinking Shears

5. Spring Loaded Scissors  

Spring-loaded scissors are all-purpose scissors that help with hand fatigue if you have carpal tunnel or arthritis.  These scissors assist those who have a weak grip or lack some hand control. It’s no secret that sewing for your career can cause some physical complications like carpal tunnel.  I have known many people who have been affected by this disorder or arthritis and they still love sewing even though it’s difficult.  Several people I know have told me these scissors have enabled them to get back to sewing with ease.  I personally like the Fiskars Easy Action Fabric Shears. I bought them for my mom and she loves them!

Here’s a link to my recommendation:

Fiskars Easy Action Fabric Shears 8″

6. Dress Making shears

Dress Making Shears are fabric-cutting scissors that have longer blades that can cut at an angle.  One of the blades usually has a rounded end to prevent snagging on the fabric, while the other end is pointed to ensure accurate and clean snipping.  Dressmaker shears are great when you need to cut pieces out of larger fabrics, like fabric pieces for dresses, skirts, or pants, for example. The blades have a side bend that enables dressmakers to cut a piece of fabric without lifting the material away from the surface of the table, ensuring accuracy and faster cutting.

I recommend these dress making shears:

Guggenhein 9’’ Dressmaker Shears

7. Quilter Batting Scissors

Quilter batting scissors are a very specialized tool. They have an extremely bent handle and long blades that are perfect for cutting quilt batting or wadding, which is used for the filling of quilts and makes them warm and heavy.  If you aren’t making quilts, you probably don’t need these.  But if you are a quilt-maker, these are so helpful!  

Try these:

Handi Quilter Batting Scissors

8. Crafting and paper scissors

Crafting or paper scissors are important in any sewing room or craft room.  They can be used to cut paper, cut off tags, open packages, and cut out patterns.  These scissors will do the work that you don’t want your sewing scissors to do.  Any type of paper scissors will do, but you need them handy with your sewing supplies to cut paper or plastic.  Don’t be tempted to use your sewing scissors,  you’ll regret it later!!

Any paper scissors will do. Here’s a link to the ones I currently use:

Fiskars Premier Designer Scissors 8″

9. Rotary Cutter

Rotary Cutter is another type of cutting tool for fabrics. It has a sharp blade in the shape of a wheel, that is mounted on a handle.  A rotary cutter can be used to slice through multiple layers of fabric and is used with a cutting mat on a flat surface. This is an essential tool for cutting fabrics with stretch.  It’s really the only way to get an exact cut that isn’t jagged on fabrics like spandex and stretch illusion mesh.  When cutting stretch fabrics with scissors, the fabric will stretch and contort in a way that woven fabrics don’t.  Also, the ends of the scissors could snag the fabric or create small holes.

Rotary cutters also come in a variety of blade sizes, commonly 18mm, 28mm, 45mm, and 60mm. The larger the blade size, the more layers of fabric or thicker fabric you can cut.  The smaller blade size allows more maneuverability which is wonderful for cutting patterns for stretch fabric that have a lot of curves, for example, a leotard or bathing suit pattern.

I would recommend these rotary cutters all day long. I use them every time I’m constructing dance costumes:

Fiskars Classic Stick Rotary Cutter
Fiskars Stick Rotary Cutter, 28mm
Fiskars Stick Rotary Cutter 45mm
Fiskars Stick Rotary Cutter 60 mm

10. Left-handed scissors for fabric

Left-handed scissors for fabric are of course very specialized and designed for left-handed people, and if you are left-handed, you know how much you need these.  Yes, there are left-handed scissors made especially for sewing and fabrics!  If you are running a costume shop, teaching sewing lessons, or in a classroom setting, this is an important tool to have on hand. As teachers, we need to make what we teach accessible to everyone.  I had a student helping me make a costume, and she was trying to quietly cut with right-handed scissors and was having a difficult time.  When I handed her the left-handed fabric scissors, her face lit up!  Trust me those who need it will deeply appreciate it!

Gingher makes a great pair of left-handed fabric shears, they’re great!

Gingher 8″ Knife-Edge Dressmaker Scissors Shears Left-Handed

11. Applique scissors

Appliqué scissors are medium-sized scissors with an extremely curved shape on one blade. They are specifically designed to trim appliqué fabric after you have stitched it down, and before sewing over the raw edges of the appliqué fabric with a final satin stitch.

Here’s the pair I recommend:

Tula Pink Hardware 4″ Duckbill Applique scissors

There are so many different types of sewing scissors because there are so many different types of projects to sew and materials to use! Using a specialized, good-quality tool for the project you are working on can truly make the project so much easier, and look so much nicer.

Please remember to keep your sewing scissors separate from other crafting and paper scissors in order to keep them sharp as long as possible. Also, store them in a sheath if they come with one, this will prevent knicks as they are stored in a drawer or sewing box.  If you invest in high-quality scissors, care for them appropriately, and get them sharpened from time to time, you’ll be able to keep using your favorite scissors for years to come. 

Want to try a simple sewing project with your new scissors?  Try one of these projects!

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