Are you trying to decide on the best sewing scissors for quilting and thread sketching? Look inside any quilter or textile artist’s studio or sewing room and you are likely to find a range of scissors on hand – each designed for a different purpose.
Investing in a set of quality scissors is a decision you won’t regret. For quilting, textile art, and thread sketching or machine embroidery projects, you can achieve all your tasks with just a handful of scissors.
However, there’s no doubt that, as a quilter or textile artist, you’ll find that different types of scissors suit different purposes, so it’s worth having a few different types on hand.
Using the right pair of scissors for the job at hand is a joy – and using the wrong scissors leads to frustration and despair! Have you ever tried cutting fabric or intricate appliqué shapes with scissors that were not designed for the purpose?
But with the vast array available, how do you choose the best sewing scissors for all your quilting and textile art needs?
Choosing scissors for quilting and thread sketching
As a quilter, thread sketcher or thread painter you’re going to need a few pairs to suit different purposes:
- Choosing scissors for quilting and thread sketching
- Sewing or Dressmaking Shears – My Recommendations
- Essential Scissors to Complete your Collection – My Recommendations
- Spring-loaded, micro-tip scissors
- Small Embroidery Scissors
- Multipurpose Office or Household Scissors
- Overview
- You may also be interested in:
Nevertheless, my taste in scissors is simple and practical – I have a small (but indispensable) collection of quality scissors that offer versatility and great functionality.
I recommend building your scissor collection by beginning with some excellent sewing or dressmaking shears.
I started sewing when I was very young (around 5 years of age), guided by my mother and my aunt, who was a professional dressmaker. The first pair of sewing scissors I owned (and indeed, still own and use!) is a pair of German Robuso quality dressmaking shears.
To help you make your choice, I’ve put together a list of my top recommendations of the best scissors available today for quilting and thread sketching – scissors that offer versatility, quality, and great value, and will make your projects a joy to create!
Sewing or Dressmaking Shears – My Recommendations
Fiskars Razor-edge Softgrip Fabric Scissors [8 inch]
My Top Pick!
For durability, quality, comfort, and versatility, Fiskars are my top ‘go-to’ brand for many different kinds of scissors. These scissors, ideal for both quilting and dressmaking, have ultra-sharp blades that will cut through both fine and heavy-duty fabrics with ease.
The softgrip handles make them perfect for extended use and smaller hands. These versatile scissors offer Scandinavian quality that will last a lifetime. In fact, Fiskars include a lifetime warranty.
Sirmedal Professional Heavy Duty Tailor Scissors [8″]
Super useful for cutting a wide range of tough textiles!
Superb quality at an affordable price. The ultra-sharp, slightly longer, titanium-coated blades of the Sirmedal Professional Heavy Duty Tailor Scissors glide through up to 16 layers of fabric, and are also suitable for cutting a wide range of textile art materials.
These scissors are fabulous for all your quilting projects or pair them up with scissors reserved for cutting fabric only.
It’s always a good idea to keep one pair of scissors dedicated to cutting fabric! Having a second pair of all-purpose sewing scissors avoids any risk of dulling your fabric shears by cutting other materials.
The light weight and ergonomic design of these Livingo scissors make them a joy to use for a wide range of sewing, textile art, and craft.
With the ability to cut through the toughest crafting materials, these scissors make a perfect companion to the Fiskars shears.
Gingher Knife-edge Dressmaker’s Shears [8-inch]
If you’d prefer some stylish Italian scissors with a more classic look, Gingher dressmaker’s shears are an excellent choice. Designed specifically with dressmaking in mind, the bent handles allow the blade to hold the fabric flat as you cut.
Although these shears don’t have softgrip handles, they are comfortable to use, though perhaps not for extended periods if you have mobility issues with your hands. They are also a little heavier than some other brands. Nevertheless, Gingher’s reputation for quality means these scissors will serve you well, and last many years.
Essential Scissors to Complete your Collection – My Recommendations
Even with a great pair of regular sewing scissors, (along with a second pair reserved for cutting tough textiles and craft supplies), there are a few other essential scissors to complete your collection and make your quilting and textile art creation so much easier and enjoyable.
Here are my top picks for essential scissors to round out your collection.
Spring-loaded, micro-tip scissors
Fiskars Titanium Micro-tip Scissors
My favorites! I could not live without these scissors!
I’m not joking when I say my thread sketching and quilting life would be a misery without these scissors. I use them every day – even more often than my sewing shears.
There is nothing better than these Fiskars micro-tip scissors, with their ultra-sharp blades, for cutting out intricate appliqué shapes, clipping tight corners, or snipping threads.
The spring loading and softgrip handle make these scissors comfortable and easy to use – perfect for people with arthritic or problematic hands. In fact, they have been awarded an Arthritis Foundation Ease-of-use Award.
If I were stranded on a desert island, my Fiskars micro-tips would be my scissor of choice! I don’t have a bad word to say about them.
Small Embroidery Scissors
Gingher Stork Embroidery Scissors
These elegant, cute and useful embroidery scissors round out my small collection of essential scissors.
For such a small size (3.5″), these scissors are very sharp and have a fine point – perfect for getting into tiny corners and snipping threads.
If you’re someone who likes to take a small embroidery project out and about with you, these little guys will take up no space!
Multipurpose Office or Household Scissors
Pick up an inexpensive pair of office scissors at your local office supplies store, or choose these multi-purpose office scissors – perfect for cutting paper and card:
Multi-purpose Office and Craft Scissors [3 pack]
Meet all your family’s needs (and your own!) with this very economical 3-pack of multi-purpose office and craft scissors.
As a quilter, dressmaker, or embroiderer, there are many times when you need to cut paper or card, so it’s worth having household scissors for those tasks.
After all, you wouldn’t want to ruin your quality sewing scissors cutting paper!
Overview
Scissors are such essential items for anyone working with fabric and thread, but as you can see, I don’t believe in rushing out and buying too many different types of scissor.
Invest in a small range of quality scissors, love them and take care of them, and it’s likely you’ll never need to replace them.
You may also be interested in:
- Which free motion foot?
- What kind of needle should you use for thread painting?
- Rotary cutting skills for fabric collage and quilting.
- 16 reasons why thread shreds when thread painting (and what to do about it).
