Best fabric scissors: Ask the experts
- Category Stitch, TextileArtist.org
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Last week we found out which embroidery scissors experts in the field would recommend. Today we turn our attention to fabric shears; 3 renowned textile artists give us their opinions on the best scissors for precision cutting of material.
Cate Hursthouse recommends:
“For larger cutting jobs I rely on my Fiskars fabric shears. They are stalwarts of my practice and have probably lasted me about 20 years now Woe betide anyone in the house who thinks these should be used to cut paper.”
Cate Hursthouse is a renowned textile artist, a member of the Society of Designer Craftsmen and has an MA in Contemporary Textiles from the University of Hertfordshire.
Fiskars fabric shears
Fiskars set the standard in quality for fabric scissors and shears. Produced in Finland using top quality stainless steel, their classic orange handles have become their trademark.
Each finely tempered and faceted blade is ground and hardened for durability, giving a cut that is ultra-clean and acutely accurate. The patented handle design is famous for being very comfortable for long periods of use.
These highly ergonomic shears are capable of cutting through very thick fabrics and can handle multiple layers of material, cardboard, laminate, and even light metal – although if you want to keep them nice and sharp for use with textiles, allocate them for that one purpose only.
It’s testament to the Fiskars brand that over 1 billion pairs of these scissors have been sold worldwide!
More from Fiskars:
Fiskars General Purpose Scissors, 21cm | Fiskars 45mm Rotary Cutter
| Fiskars 9445o33 Pinking Scissors
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Sue Stone recommends:
“I use a left handed lightweight scissor by Korbond which is very comfortable to hold. I’ve tried all sorts of makes over the years and this is the one I like best.”
Sue Stone is an award-winning textile artist, chairperson of the prolific 62 Group, and mother of the creators of TextileArtist.org.
Korbond 9-inch Dressmaking Scissor
Precision ground 9″ blades mean that these shears are perfect for achieving a detailed cut of fabrics and materials. and soft touch handles, is ideal for cutting fabrics and materials.
More from Korbond
Korbond 7-inch Craft Scissor
| Korbond 9-inch Pinking Shears
| Korbond 8-inch Multi-Purpose Scissor
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Lindsay Taylor recommends:
“I do have some old Fiskars scissors. I like the bright orange handle – easier to spot in the chaos I work in. Recently I bought a funky pair while exhibiting in France. They are by a company called Kelmscott Designs.com, based in Canada; their designs are fantastic. Mine are matt black and called Steweb.”
Lindsay Taylor creates 3D textile art by weaving natural hand-dyed fabrics into organic forms.
Which fabric shears or scissors would you recommend? And for which specific tasks? Let us know in the comments section below.
I have always been a fan of fiskars scissors. I had a great pair that I bought for college and lasted me as my main fabric shears until last year…. When a thoughtless technician took them without asking and cut tape with them 🙁 I still haven’t forgiven him. The blades were longer and thinner than the current fiskars design. I bought a new pair but they are just not quite the same…. Still looking for the perfect replacement.
have you tried sending them to Fiskar to get them fixed ?
I have found dealing with them magic .
I recommend Merchant and Mills scissors, both for embroidery and dressmaking.
I prefer Ginghers scissors.
Look for scissors with serrated edge blades. They hold all kinds of fabric in place as you cut, especially nice for very light weight fabrics. probably not easy to get sharpened…but mine have stayed sharp for years!
I’m a long time Fisher’s fan.
I used Fiskars for years – then I tried a pair of Ginghers ….. MY Cadilac of scissors! For my hands – they are more comfortable and easier to work with …. my hands don’t tire or become painful as quickly as when I use other scissors. I still use my Fiskars occasionally but muchly prefer my Ginghers.
Ernest Wright scissors are the BEST! Crafted with care in Sheffield, not mass produced.
I totally agree with Cathy. Ernest Wright’s scissors are beautifully made, well balanced and cut well. It’s also good to buy from the craftsman who actually made the scissors! I love mine.
Have a pair with bright red handles. I can finthem in the mess! The are brilliant in color and performance!
Cutco has superb scissors
I too have a pair of Ernest Wright Shears. Handmade in Sheffield from the finest high-carbon steel, they are a pleasure to use, and will last for a century or longer. My last pair of cheaper scissors were binned when one of the plastic handles came away. William Whiteley also make scissors of a similar quality.
After forty years of sewing, the absolute best scissors are Kai scissors!
I believe William Whiteley actually supply the scissors for Merchant and Mills! Theyre handmade in Sheffield and one of the oldest scissormakers in the world, founded in 1760. Once I started using their scissors I never looked back – and have started hiding them from the rest of the family!!
Sheffield’s finest Ernest Wright scissors every time.